The Valletta 2018 Foundation launched a new corporate identity.

The foundation said this development enforced the shift from Valletta being a candidate city to one that was developing a strong cultural programme leading to 2018 and beyond.

The programme is built on four themes - generations, routes, cities and islands, tying in communities and the local, Mediterranean and European contexts.

The foundation said it was also developing a programme of consistent, accessible and comparable research and evaluation directly linked to culture.

It said Valletta 2018’s new visual representation defined an identity anchored in the uniqueness of the city, hence the tag line Belt Unika.

The foundation said the Valletta 2018 brand mark was inspired by the original architectural plans of Francesco Laparelli da Cortona (1521-1570) with rows of streets set perfectly at right angles to each other with its layered terraced visual appearance.

This acted as the basis for an identity grid system unique to Valletta 2018.

The elements are choreographed as if on stage, a vibrant snapshot of an energised performance.

The shapes are designed to suggest the dynamic and contemporary nature of the manifestation, while the letters are highlighting the unique and sharp shapes of the city’s planning and architecture.

The Valletta 2018 website has also been redesigned to facilitate communication between the foundation and the public.