The arts are generally thought to encompass the performing arts (dance, theatre, music), the literary arts, the visual arts and film.
So if an arts festival is missing one, two or even three of the above genres, does it still fit the description of an arts festival?
In unprecedented fashion, the 2011 edition of the Malta Arts Festival, to be held between July 1 and 23, will not be showcasing the visual arts. Film and the literary arts are also genres which have been consistently left out of the arts festival.
Speaking during a press conference to launch the Malta Arts Festival’s programme of events, Malta Council for Culture and the Arts chairman Adrian Mamo said it was indeed unfortunate that the visual arts were not represented in this year’s edition.
He explained that the festival had intended to include a follow-up event to Architecture Project’s upcoming international symposium and workshop Towards Frugality, being held later this week, but there simply weren’t enough funds to cover the expenses for this project to succeed.
Mr Mamo stressed that the visual arts merited a distinct and separate festival, in which painting, sculpture, fashion, installations and more would take centre stage. However, nothing has as yet been set in stone.
Besides the lack of visual arts, this edition of the Malta Arts Festival has many firsts. For starters the majority of the events are set to be held in Floriana (the Argotti Gardens), instead of the capital city, as has been customary in past years.
Mr Mamo explained that in previous editions the festival sought to make use of areas such as the ruins of the Opera House as an event venue but how this was no longer possible for obvious reasons.
The festival has also undergone a thorough re-branding process by Switch design and branding agency, who is also one of the festival’s sponsors.
In previous years the festival made use of starfish, seahorses, peacocks or lizards, but after five years their attention is being focused on the human figure, specifically on the Commedia dell’Arte character of Harlequin.
This year’s edition of the Malta Arts Festival is being dedicated to Maltese composer Charles Camilleri, who died two years ago and would have turned 80 this year. Festival director Mario Frendo said Mro Camilleri was one of the artists responsible for placing Malta on the international map.
The festival opener will feature one of Mro Camilleri’s last major works for orchestra – the New Idea Symphony, which has already been performed several times abroad, in countries such as Belgium and France, but will premiere in Malta on July 1.
This year’s arts festival is strong on the performing arts, most especially those related to dance. In fact, out of the 13 events, four comprise dance numbers.
These are, Puerto Flamenco’s Ring featuring Maltese dancer Francesca Grima; Mavin Khoo Dance who has devised a performance specifically for the Malta Arts Festvial; Barbarossa, a modern dance drama which formed part of Istanbul 2010’s European Capital of Culture events; and Stomping La Luna by Austrian contemporary dance ensemble Das Collectif.
Perhaps the highlight of the festival will be the performance by the Kronos Quartet. Better known for their collaboration with Clint Mansell for the 2000 soundtrack Requiem for a Dream, or the 2006 soundtrack of The Fountain, the quartet have an international standing and reputation.
They will be playing live on July 18 at the Argotti Gardens.
Other festival events include quasi-resident performers Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, musician Enrico Dindo, the Big Band Brothers, the Laboratorio di Castaldo and the Strada food and wine festival. The full programme of events will be made available soon on the festival’s website which should be launched over the coming week or so.
The festival will come to a close on July 23 with a concert featuring world-renowned conductor Wayne Marshall who, together with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, will be performing two of the most popular classical works, namely Ravel’s Bolero and Orff’s spectacular Carmina Burana.