Reference is being made to Petra Caruana Dingli’s article called ‘On rock music and kartapesta’ (The Sunday Times of Malta, February 22).

While noting Caruana Dingli’s views on carnival, the government has consistently stressed that we need to create the right environment to assist this traditional festivity to evolve into an event which attracts a wider audience.

The new facilities in Marsa (which, as already explained in the press launch, have not been given a name yet to give the opportunity to the public at large to be engaged with all aspects of the project) will allow for the cross pollination of different art forms.

Of course any talk – direct or indirect – of contemporary high and low culture defeats the whole purpose.

The government has already started consulting a wide range of artists to make sure that the potential of the new facilities be maximised to the full.

The promotion of the different art forms is indeed a top priority for the government and I take the opportunity to invite your readers to consider attending the premier of the very first show of the recently formed National Contemporary Dance Company ŻfinMalta at the MITP this month.