Not a lot of people know about the University of Malta’s Research Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT), but that is changing as research takes an increasingly important role in today’s society. That is why the RIDT is working on build-ing more partnerships between researchers and the community.

Wilfred Kenely, the current CEO of the Trust, is keen on raising awareness about the University’s research programmes and getting the community to participate in them.

“When we started three years ago, the concept of funding research through public philanthropy was unheard of in Malta, but since then more and more people have come on board.”

Although the University funds a lot of the RIDT’s work, it is simply not enough. Through its work, the RIDT has brought together key players in the community from private individuals to companies and community fundraising. Among its most remarkable successes, the RIDT has helped fund a PhD programme in oncology research, collected funds for hepatology through Life Cycle and forged relationships with Malta Freeport for engineering research.

Because of the technical (and technological) requirements, as well as their immediate impact on society, disciplines such as medicine and engineering receive the bulk of funds. But the RIDT funds projects across the board, including Humanities and the Arts. And that is where the exciting stuff comes in.

The key to RIDT’s success has been its partnerships and collaborations, and the chance meeting with artist James Vella Clark has been one of its most original and daring undertakings to date. The project remit was simple: a series of concerts that celebrate Malta’s artistic heritage, promote quality in the arts and raise funds for research.

Detail from a sculpture at the Oratory.

Vella Clark is known for his love of Valletta and its heritage. Yet his vision is not that of a petrified historical artifact, but a vibrant city that is at the forefront of contemporary culture. He had long tried to create a project tied to the Oratory of the Onorati adjacent to the Jesuits’ church in Valletta. The idea was to get artists involed in utilising the space.

The oratory itself forms part of the former Jesuits’ College founded in 1592 and currently houses the Valletta campus of the University of Malta. Apart from the church, the complex boasts two wonderful oratories originally designed as meeting places for the community. This project will see the spaces given back to the community by offering an informal platform for the arts.

The idea struck a chord with Kenely and he was more than happy to rope in the RIDT to help organise these concerts.

Quality musicians are always looking for a suitable platform

“The concept of having a concert series to fund a cause is certainly not new,” he says. “We have quality musicians who are always looking for a suitable performance platform and at the same time we can help to raise funds for more research in Malta.”

Although these concerts will not be able to fund the RIDT’s bigger projects, this money will help the Trust to fund smaller projects which, all too often, are overlooked.

Moreover, promoting Malta’s professional musicians is well within its remit of promoting quality and innovation.

This will not simply be easy classics for music lovers, but more of an innovative series that encompasses diverse genres and styles.

Just to put you in the picture, the series starts off today with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra String Quartet performing Beethoven side by side with a new piece by Christopher Muscat. This will be followed by Lumia Flute Quartet, an unusual chamber combination in itself, on November 30. Then, for December there is a Jazz Trio followed by a Baroque Christmas. Calling this ‘eclectic’ is an understatement.

The best part of this project is that there is no timeframe or limit. In many ways it is the planting of a seed that will hopefully bear a lot of fruit for all involved. Every programme promises to be different. “The only thing that never changes is the high quality of the concerts offered,” assures me Kenely.

The Oratory Music & Art is a fortnightly series held at the Oratory of the Onorati (adjacent to the Jesuits’ church) in Valletta. Concerts are held on a Sunday at 4.30pm. Entrance from Archbishop Street.