Seventeen works by different artists, including Mcast students, are on display at Malta’s first sculpture garden.

The feature, at Verdala Palace, was officially inaugurated yesterday by President George Abela.

The sculptures include works by several contemporary artists, four temporary installations by Mcast students and another two by international artists, including Unesco Artist for Peace Hedva Ser.

The contemporary artists are Richard England, Gabriel Caruana, John Grima, Paul Haber, George Muscat, Angelo Agius, Mario Galea, Norbert Francis Attard, Joe Xuereb, Neville Ferry and Dolores Lungaro Mifsud.

With the exception of the sculpture by Mr Ferry, which was donated by the family, these artists were compensated for the expenses incurred in producing the works.

The garden includes a play area in the form of a life-size checkerboard where children can paint the king, knight, rook, bishop and queen pieces.

The gardens and the palace will be open to the public on March 9. The works were placed in areas specifically identified by the planning authority as the garden is a Natura 2000 site.

The project followed a proposal by the Mcast Art and Design Institute when director Stephen Vella assigned a group of students reading for a degree in 3D design and interior to work on a scale model of the land surrounding Verdala Palace.