“Quality, quality, quality” is the mantra which should spearhead the formulation of any policy for Malta’s cultural and creative sectors, experts have advised.   

Artists and creative practitioners in the fields of cultural heritage, the arts, the media and creative business services met in the Parliament building this evening for a discussion on the future of Malta’s cultural and creative sectors.

The forum was organised as part of a consultative process in the run-up to the launch of Arts Council Malta’s five-year strategy (2016-2020).

Ivan Callus, chair of the Institute of Digital Games and associate professor in English at the university, highlighted the need for a cultural policy shaped by excellence – which, he added, did not encourage disdain of the popular but rather, revitalised it.

Practitioners needed to nurture their ability for critical self-assessment of the quality of work being produced, while opportunities for comment and critique needed to be created.

Prof. Callus went on to outline the importance of awareness and a keen sense of discernment allowing people to assess a piece of work as “below par”, “needs more work” or “outstanding”.

James Azzopardi Meli, a member of Studio 18, said that culture was not a drain on the economy – conversely, economic activity was generated through marketing activities, such when people, for instance, visited nearby pubs and restaurants following a performance.

He stressed that culture and the arts should be integrated into secondary schools, forming part of the school leaving certificate.

Edward Duca, project manager of the Science in the City festival, extolled the virtues of having more artistic projects which incorporated scientists. An artistic research excellence centre should be developed, he said, stressing the need for the cultural industry to be able to tap into sustainable funding without political intrusion.

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