Grammy-award winner Arvo Pärt is expected to be one of the main highlights of the 11th edition of the Malta International Arts Festival.

Details of the festival taking place between July 8 and 18 were given during a news conference addressed by Culture Minister Owen Bonnici and Arts Council Malta. 

The festival will this year be creating its own choir for a special event where Arvo Pärt, one of the world’s most respected composers, will be welcomed as a guest.

Arvo Pärt is known for his tintinnabuli style, a compositional technique which he created.

“One of the strongest statements throughout this festival is our creative and brave no-boundaries approach in terms of conceptual art across all the art forms we are representing, and taking the risk of jumping into the unknown; as well as the idea of building new partnerships and creating some unique things through them, and the presentation of newly commissioned works,” said the festival’s artistic director Michelle Castelletti.

The artistic team, which also includes Ruben Zahra, Francesca Tranter and Riccardo Carbutti together with Dr Castelletti, have worked together to create a varied programme, to appeal to all the arts.

An important element of the festival is that while it brings to Malta quality performances from abroad, it also provides a platform to local artists. As part of this drive, the festival aims to give young artists the opportunity to present their work. 

Performers are invited to send submissions to perform in the Young Performers Platform, details of which will be announced in the coming days.

BANDLI at Pjazza San Gorg.

Once again, the festival will have a number of free events, as well as an interactive installation. BANDLI, which will be set up at Pjazza San Ġorġ throughout the duration of the festival, will consist of eight swings, each triggering sounds of different instruments which will be assigned to them, allowing this interactive structure to function like a music ensemble that is brought to life through the engagement of the public. 

The programme will also include a street theatre project centred around one of Malta’s old traditional buses, which will travel from village to village in an effort to bring the festival closer to the people.

Details about more events which will make up the festival, will be published every Friday, with the complete programme unveiled by May 4.  Early bird tickets will be available between May 4 and June 7.

More information about the festival, and details about events as they are published can be obtained from www.maltaartsfestival.org.