The Biennale della Ceramica between ceramists from Sicily, Malta and Cyprus took place recently at ‘La Certosa’ in Bagheria, near Palermo in Sicily.

The Maltese ceramists who took part in the first exhibition at Bagheria were Charles Sammut, Mario Sammut, Antoine Paul Camilleri, Valerio Schembri,Kenneth Grima, Paul Haber, Joseph Agius, Angelo Agius,Ray Abela, Sina Micallef and Romina Farrugia.

This venue was previously a museum of wax figures, but has now reopened as a venue for art exhibitions.

The Maltese ceramists, coordinated by Charles Sammut and Mario Sammut, and the Cypriot ceramists by Vassos Demtriou and Efthymious Symeou have developed the ceramic exhibition into a yearly venue and over time this event has spread to include other Mediterranean islands into the exhibition.

For the last six years, Charles Sammut and Mario Sammut have been instrumental in organising the series of six exhibitions of ceramics between Malta and Cyprus, each year alternating the venue. Through the intervention of Louis Lagana, Sicily was included for the first time this year.

The first exhibition of the Biennale di Ceramica between the three Mediterranean islands of Malta, Cyprus and Sicily was inaugurated by the mayor of Bagheria, Biagio Sciortino.

He commented on the importance of the exchanging of cultural ideas between Mediterranean people, who have a long and colourful history. This will foster dialogue between groups of individuals, which will then flow into other collaboration and enrich our cultural heritage.

This exhibition is the first one of the series. The second exhibition will be organised in Cyprus next year and the third will be held in Malta in 2013.