The Valletta 2018 Foundation has launched the 3rd edition of Imagine 18, a conference which focuses on Valletta as cultural capital in 2018.

The conference will be held on May 16, 17 and 18.

“After our successful bid for the title, V.18 will now embark on developing a programme of projects and events to make a truly great year of 2018, outgoing foundation chairman David Felice said.

The theme chosen is Valletta : Small City | Big Dreams. The conference shall feature leading international names Architect Carlo Ratti, Jonathan McClory from Winkreative publishers of Monocle magazine, and cultural expert Elena Natale. They will be joined by established academic Shaun Grech and Marisa Marmara from the Majjistral Local Action Group Foundation. The discussion will be moderated by Adrian Mamo.

The V.18 chairman also referred to a survey carried out by the Valletta 2018 Foundation in the past weeks, which showed that over 81% of those interviewed were aware that Valletta shall be European Capital of Culture in 2018. Asked to express themselves about what they thought a European Capital of Culture is, nearly 28% said it is an opportunity to expose a city to other European countries, 13% said it instils a sense of identity while 7.3% claimed the title generates many cultural events.