The private book collections of the late Dennis Vella and Neville Ferry, including over 1,050 volumes, were recently donated to the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology’s Institute of Art and Design’s library to be used by the college’s art students, which is visited by an average of 420 students a day.
These collections are a treasure which must not be left to gather dust
Vella’s collection includes approximately 1,000 books and periodicals, while Ferry’s selection includes another 59 volumes. Vella (1953-2009) was actively involved in the local art scene, through his academic studies of Maltese art, the promotion of Maltese artists and his administrative roles in the sector, including that of curator of the Modern and Contemporary section of the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Ferry (1945-2011) was a prolific sculptor and ceramist in Malta and in England, where he exhibited his works and worked as a ceramics lecturer. He also contributed to various prestigious art organisations, including the Milton Keynes Crafts Guild.
During the presentation ceremony, the Vella and Ferry families explained that the knowledge and resources which had helped their late relatives throughout their careers is now available to many other artists. They encouraged the Mcast students to use these books as a source of inspiration in their artistic endeavours.
Mcast president Joseph Farrugia expressed the college’s gratitude at the Vella and Ferry’s important contributions to the local art scene, particularly in the promotion of new talent. These achievements have now been extended through the donation of their private book collections to the library.
“These collections are a treasure which must not be left to gather dust,” he said. “Every young artist should read and learn as much as possible about art. These books will take them on a journey to many countries and cultures and back in time to different ages to taste a world of art forms, styles and techniques; a voyage that will ultimately help them uncover their own artistic identity.”
College librarian Laurence Zerafa said that personal book collections are a reflection of the tastes of the people who compiled and owned them. “While cataloguing these two collections, we found out that Vella and Ferry had personalised most of them with related material, such as cuttings from other publications, exhibition catalogues and even personal notes.
“All these removable items found in the books have been listed in our electronic catalogue. They will be available for viewing through separate files, each referenced with details of the exact page within the volume in which they were placed by their original owners. Our students and re-searchers looking into the lives and achievements of these two important personalities will certainly find these collections very useful in their studies.”
Stephen Vella, director of the Institute of Art and Design, said the donation will ensure that Vella and Ferry will not only be remembered by those who knew them in the Maltese and international art community, but also by individuals who will read their books at the library.
Thanking their families for the donation, he added that the Mcast Institute of Art and Design library is becoming one of the best-resourced art libraries in Malta with a wide range of priceless and interesting books; a specialised library for both students and researchers.
The Mcast Institute of Art and Design is the main local provider for higher education in the creative arts, giving learners the opportunity to choose among a variety of disciplines, ranging from Fine Art, Graphic Design, 3D Design, Interactive Media, Photography and Media (Moving Image). The institute has been growing steadily in the past years, with this year’s cohort exceeding 800 students.
The institute’s library forms part of Mcast’s Library and Learning Resource Centre, which includes six libraries at the Mcast main campus in Paola and at the college’s institutes in other locations
They offer over 55,000 volumes, including books and periodicals, as well as other resources such as films and educational software.
For more information about the institute’s courses, visit www.mcast.edu.mt.
Prospective students may also contact the college’s career advisors on career.guidance@mcast.edu.mt or 2398 7135 for personal career advice.