A cultural policy advisory group will be set up to review the sector, Parliamentary Secretary Josè Herrera said yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of the eighth edition of the Malta Arts Festival, Dr Herrera called it an important artistic and cultural event that attracted Maltese and tourists.

Artistic director Mario Frendo said this year would see the largest local participation since the first edition. Five of the 15 events were “purely” Maltese and five others consist of collaboration between local and international artists.

From the passion of flamenco to Shakespeare’s Globe, the 15-day festival, to be held between June 30 and July 14, promises to be more intriguing than ever.

Shakespeare’s Globe will be back with The Taming of the Shrew, on July 3 and 4. The Kronos Quartet, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, will perform on July 2.

Mr Frendo said Kronos would hold a three-day residency for string quartets workshop, a first for Europe. A workshop for dancers with members of Wayne McGregor Random Dance, will be on July 10 and 11 and a third – with members from Shakespeare’s Globe – will take place on July 2 and 4.

The Big Band Brothers will return for Ftakar 3, based on the lyrics of poet Joe Friggieri.

Dr Herrera said the Government believed culture belonged to everyone and he hoped there would be no political divides during his tenure at the Culture Ministry and this legislature would build on what “others have done”.

A cultural advisory group will be set up to look at the “bad and the good” in the cultural scene, review funding and enhance the profile of local talent.

The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts would have its roles – which include organising festivals – separated to focus on the cultural vision as a regulator, he said.

Find details about the Malta Arts Festival at http://maltaartsfestival.org .