Malta being European Capital of Culture in 2018 is a phenomenal opportunity for us to make arts and culture more relevant to people’s lives. Mary McCarthy speaks to Veronica Stivala.

The builders of the massive Carnival floats are one example of the phenomenal energy and passion that the Maltese have, says Mary McCarthy, director of programmes and deputy director for Cork, the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) for 2005.

In Malta for an Information Day on the ECOC, McCarthy says it’s interesting that the country has this creative dynamic.

Despite the mayhem that the Carnival setup caused in the capital city, what McCarthy wants to show is that people are involved and passionate about culture.

Although the city or village which will be ECOC has not yet been decided, all the mayors of Malta and Gozo are supporting a joint bid led by Valletta.

McCarthy draws on the positive side to a cultural tradition such as Carnival, noting how we must “spotlight these incredible traditions and give them a role in (2018) to put value on the things that (we) have”.

Culture and the arts are made more relevant to people’s lives when a city is ECOC. “Culture doesn’t just have to happen in art houses,” she says.

Which is why combining the arts with health is a particularly important issue. Malta needs to think about how it can enable people who have a disability or a long-term illness to have access to culture.

To be successful, “the ECOC must not just be owned by politicians; creatives must be allowed to become part of the process”, she emphasises.

Communities should be asked what they think the ECOC should be. Fundamental questions include: How do you want Malta to develop culturally? What are the traditions from the past you’d like to keep? What are the things we value about culture now? What are the positions our artists hold in this society? Are our artists recognised for their cultural contribution?

The more successful ECOCs, as well as putting up projects, have these debates, notes McCarthy.

Young people and minority groups should also be given importance. Considering how Malta is dealing with big immigration issues, we must take into consideration the people who are going to be here illegally and legally.

McCarthy draws attention to our relationship with Africa and how we must use its influences on our food, music, culture and history to our advantage.

Being open to different cultures is key. She says: “It’s very important that you don’t have a monoculture and that you can support diverse people. If Malta wants to be a tolerant and interesting place, it needs to give equal value to different cultures.”

What is also vital is that we contemporise our culture. McCarthy points out how Europe knows little or less about our contemporary artists than it does of our historical artists.

This is an opportunity to put young people in the middle the new practice to start to develop a cultural infrastructure for the future.

She also notes how although it is important to create cultural spaces – not only for performances/exhibitions, but also for rehearsing and creating art – being a capital of culture is more than just about buildings.

“It really is the potential to change a city, to change the image, to change the way people think about the place they live in,” she says.

It’s important that people can be active and participate in choosing projects.

She notes that Malta, with its creative, political and business community, should start to develop a clear vision for what it wants to achieve through the ECOC.

McCarthy says it is exciting that in addition to preparing to be ECOC, Malta is also developing a culture policy, as this will provide us with a framework for when we are the European Capital.

Admittedly, not everything can be solved by 2018 and we have to use ECOC as a catalyst for longer term change.

The arts council needs to look at the role of artists and how they can have a much more major role in the future.

“They’re not just something that is brought out for celebration when there’s a big national event,” she says.

Keeping in mind how tourism is very competitive, McCarthy says the Maltese cannot rely on their history, climate, beaches or traditional assets so the creative industries and artists should be a vibrant part of the economy.

“People are interested in a smart, bright, well-educated, well-articulated economy – which you have,” she points out.

“I think I would be more encouraged for the development of this cultural strategy to know that there are clear funding structures for arts activities; that they can get revenue funding, project funding.”

She also underlines how it is important that the Maltese make connections with other European countries so they can build projects with places outside Malta. Artists and the creative community need to travel and connect with other areas. Networking plays a very big part.

Naturally, being ECOC will have a huge role to play in relation to tourism.

Being a small country will work to Malta’s advantage as people will probably visit other villages and towns.

However, McCarthy is adamant that it is not just for tourists. “It’s your project. The ECOC is for you to translate it into something site-specific.”

She also points out that preparing to be ECOC can be used in an interesting way to open up discussions about the role of culture.

“It will help you look at how culture can integrate with tourism, education and other ministries.”

Think about being ECOC from a sustainable point of view, she urges.

“Do not put all this money into only one year. It has to be an exceptional year but think about it as a process of change. It’s an opportunity to change how you position yourself.”

The process starts now, we must not wait till 2018.

Listen to Mary McCarthy on www.timesofmalta.com.