Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said the Arts Council Malta (Amendment) Bill would empower artists and decrease the role of politicians.
Speaking during the second reading of the Bill, Dr Bonnici said all cultural entities, such as Manoel Theatre, St James Cavalier, the National Dance Company and the National Orchestra, would be under one umbrella though still operating autonomously. This would allow for flexibility and the possibility for artists to work cohesively with colleagues.
The council would be a one-stop shop based on three foundations: funding, national festivals and financial procurement. The minister would no longer decide who would receive funding but council members who were involved in the arts scene would.
Valletta is our Ferrari and should be treated as such
For Valletta 2018 it was essential to leave behind a legacy, he said, so this would be a priority.
The law would provide for the monitoring and “policing” of the financial procurement to ensure that funds were being spent wisely.
The Arts Council would be based on the development of cultural knowledge and creativity, the development of artists and the collection of information and data, which included mapping of cultural sites and theatrical spaces.
It would also cater for the development of business and financial investment for such niche activities, providing them with seed capital.
An important aspect would be the encouragement of diversity, including involvement of all communities including foreigners and refugees.
Finally, it will seek the internationalisation of Maltese culture on the world stage.
Dr Bonnici said it was not enough to export the typical Maltese culture of pastizzi, Kinnie or festi but Maltese culture in its wider context, had to be promoted, such as tenor Joseph Calleja had done. Culture had to be considered a currency to open Malta’s doors to the world.
Dr Bonnici said one would be myopic to sell Malta as a centre of excellence in financial services without understanding the potential attraction of its cultural palate to investors. “Valletta is our Ferrari and should be treated as such,” he said, adding it was not our passport that made us Maltese but our culture, which gave us our identity.
Although the government was able to organise a series of successful cultural events during Valletta 2018, these should not be limited to an artistic celebration between January 1 and December 31. Valletta 2018 should leave a legacy that included a place for rock bands to practise and an advanced stage of a national concert hall.
While some argued that one should clean the facades of Valletta, Dr Bonnici said that, though this was a good thing, Valletta 2018’s legacy should not be limited to this.
Over the last two years, 179 projects had benefited from financial aid, amounting to over €730,000. The renovated premises at Casa Scagli for the Arts Council was an indication of the attention being given to culture by this government. Tax rebates had also been given. IFECCA, the summit which brings together policy developers, would be held in Valletta in 2016.
There was also need for a national youth orchestra, Dr Bonnici said, to ensure that a new generation of Maltese musicians could potentially fill any vacancies with the National Orchestra.
Festivals were only financially possible because they were organised by the Arts Council as a public service. He cited the Għanafest as an example of a success story. Carnival was moving from strength to strength and plans were well in hand for the creation of the carnival village. The Arts Festival, the Jazz Festival and Notte Bianca were now established, very successful events while new concepts such as Jazz on the Fringe and the Three Palaces Festival had also proved popular.
Admitting that governments did not make Malta’s cultural development their priority, Dr Bonnici said that if one were to take cultural economy and cultural tourism seriously, one had to provide artists with the necessary tools.
“How could one expect to have the best artists when we do not have a museum for contemporary arts?” he asked.
Dr Bonnici said that the government had identified a building in Strait Street to serve as a fashion museum.
The Auberge d’Italie would serve as a museum for the arts.
Land in Marsa was earmarked as a place where rock bands would be able to practice.