Valletta's bid to become European Cultural Capital submitted
Valletta's bid to serve as the European Capital of Culture in 2018 was formally submitted today.
"We all know Valletta for its past and present, this bid projects Valletta into the future," Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco, said.
Should it be selected, Valletta may share its duties with a city in The Netherlands, which still has to be selected.
The EU will decide whether to actually designate the City on the basis of the bid submitted today.
The bid book was compiled by the Valletta 2018 Foundation, which will continue to oversee the progress of the bid.
Dr de Marco explained how all local councils have teamed up to back Valletta in its bid.
The EU's Evaluation Commission is expected to announce its decision for Valletta and the chosen city in The Netherlands next year.
Dr de Marco and David Felice, who heads the foundation, said that the bid is built around the Cultural Policy announced by the government last year, with a strong emphasis on activities for young people and a 'cultural infrastructure' which would include a museum of modern and contemporary art, a multi-purpose performance space and a museum of architecture and the built environment.
The activities, Dr de Marco said would not be restricted to Valletta alone but would include other localities all over Malta.
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Rodnick Abdilla
Oct 17th 2011, 23:07
It is a wonder of wonders that this bid is not for 2012 to be used as an other electoral spin!
lilly vella
Oct 17th 2011, 22:40
Oh yeah ! With the tent in City Gate. U Zguuuuuuuur !
Phil Humphries
Oct 17th 2011, 20:03
Dr DeMarco has my sincere sympathy. Promoting Valletta as a City of Culture must be extremely difficult with Gonzi and Piano pulling the rug from under him.
Monica Muscat
Oct 17th 2011, 21:15
My Humphries, Hon. Dr. Mario de Marco does not have my sympathy - but my respect and support. It has still to be proven that Tourists will be shell-shocked and scandalized when they view Mr. Piano's project finalized! I can only confirm that I was never shocked or scandalized when I "experienced" other Piano works in other parts of Europe. Modern structures, rising amongst antique and historical buildings, but still blending without outshining their neighbours.
It is also not yet proven that the Prime Minister "pulled the rug from under the Minister's feet".
Ultimately, if the bid is unsuccessful - it would not be surely because of the Renzo Piano Act. The competition is though - so let us reserve judgement for now! The right to cry or jump for joy is left to those who will still be around on the day.
DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,
Oct 17th 2011, 19:59
This country needs to invest in a BlockBuster GREAT SIEGE OF MALTA which will be besides a vivid account of a glorious though bloody episode in the island`s chequered history,a shop window for our tourism as Malta is blessed with natural locations with our Valletta Harbours being about the most beautiful natural harbours in the world.
This Block Buster will be a criss cross among the faiths that wanted to conquer Malta, a story of passion and intrigue; hatred,pique and vendetta; a story which will cut right through Malta from the south to the west; the north east being a sub-story within the script. The natural beauty of our country will be etched: the Mdina Bastions, the Marsaxlokk Harbour where Mustapha Pasha & Piali first landed in the name of Suleimann, the City of Mdina in its mystifying surroundings,the three cities where La Valette & his Sacro Consiglio met on stone tables to map out the defence strategy by a few thousand locals against 36000 Ottomans, the mighty of that Empire.
It will be a movie that will captivate THE WORLD with the Knights Hospitalliers,the simple Maltese folk,the link with the Knights Templars,the Viceroy of Sicily,the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea,the seduction of the Blue Lagoon,the rugged idyllic Gozo scenes : how come no Maltese Government activated such plan to have our Great 1565 Seige filmed.
This project would create thousands of jobs, would take some years to complete, would cost alot of money,but for Malta it would be an everlasting investment : Think about this Dr de Marco & the Valletta Council..................immense discipline would be required and overall cooperation from all Government Departments,including the Police and the Army...........but it will be worth it. GO FOR IT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it will be a movie for Malta and the Maltese which will attract world wide attention.
Mr Hans Borg
Oct 17th 2011, 18:26
The PN are starting to believe their own gimmicks - Flimkien Kollox Possibbli !
Mr Eric Gahn
Oct 17th 2011, 17:29
How can Valletta be the Centre of Culture when we still have censorship around? A Cultural Policy is just a lot of words. What about REAL action for the people?
Marco Meli
Oct 17th 2011, 16:08
So are we going to win the bid with that piece of junk (new parlament) that has taken over the city gate???
Victor Laiviera
Oct 17th 2011, 15:53
Did they tell them about the Gateless Gate, the Roofless Theater and the Parliament on Stilts?