Gasan Mamo Insurance has kicked off its yearly commitments to the community by becoming patron of the Malta Contemporary Art Foundation (MCA), which has just launched its venue at St James Cavalier.

The MCA is a non-profit cultural organisation established to create a platform and discussion for contemporary arts in Malta.

"It's great to see Malta's very first contemporary art space," said Julian Mamo, director of sales, marketing and administration at Gasan Mamo Insurance.

"We believe in the importance of sustaining a healthy interest in the arts, especially among the young, and this project can instigate awareness, interest and discussion on art in its widest sense.

"We also hope to see interesting contemporary projects that will interact artists with the public."

MCA director Mark Mangion thanked Gasan Mamo for its generous donation and welcomed its support. MCA showcases international and local emerging and established visual artists through a programme of solo and group exhibitions, talks, film screenings and other projects. It hopes to attract thousands of visitors annually to its wide range of planned activities.

A contemporary art collection of donated works is also being established by the MCA. Other plans lined up include a series of public art project commissions, an artist studio research programme, an education programme, a film production house and a quarterly journal.