Jason Micallef believes his team’s success will answer the critics who lashed at his appointment as chairman of the Valletta 2018 foundation.
Politics will be kept at arm’s length from cultural and artistic aspects
“I have been in the public sphere for a while, and God forbid public figures did not accept criticism because this is part and parcel of our social life,” he told The Sunday Times of Malta.
He was accompanying Parliamentary Secretary Jose Herrera, who launched the new V-18 logo as the two toured workshops held at the capital, on the occasion of the official recognition of Valletta as the 2018 European Capital of Culture.
Mr Micallef told this newspaper that the work should not stop with Valletta’s official recognition.
“We need to show our European counterparts that we mean business and we should work together for a successful adventure... the legacy of Valletta 2018 is important as much as the build-up to 2018.”
Asked to respond to widespread disapproval of his appointment to head the V-18 foundation, Mr Micallef noted that public figures should be open to criticism.
“I think the reply to any criticism – not just that directed at my appointment – will be the result of the foundation’s work in the coming months and years.
“If we work well together – and I am already satisfied – the results will be there for all to see, and maybe these could answer the criticism.”
Earlier, during a press conference, Mr Micallef said the V-18 team will work together to build on the good work done so far, and he urged the public to take ownership of the European Capital of Culture title.
Speaking at the same conference, Dr Herrera said politics would be kept at arm’s length from the cultural and artistic aspects of Malta’s designation as European Capital of Culture.
Dr Herrera noted Malta has to live up to its promises in the bid for cultural capital, but he urged people to be creative.
Noting that this title should evoke a sense of pride in all Maltese, he said the country would be celebrating several anniversaries in the run-up to 2018 that artists could incorporate in the V-18 programme of events, including 50 years of Independence, 40 years as a Republic and 10 years of EU membership.
Celebrations yesterday included a short performance inspired by Mattia Preti’s The Martyrdom of St Catherine, which is being exhibited at the Grandmaster’s Palace, and a recycled percussion workshop at St George’s Square.
Tribali musician Peter Paul encouraged the public to build instruments out of recycled material, including plastic containers and bottle caps, and join in the jamming sessions in the square in front of the Palace.
A few metres away, just outside the Chamber of Commerce, French photographer Sebastien Cailleux juxtaposed children’s drawings with their photographic portraits.
The events closed the third edition of the Immaġina 18 event called Valletta: Small City, Big Ambitions.