“Keep politics out of culture” was the resounding message which emerged from the cultural forum.
Artists, academics and creative practitioners also called for “excellence filters” to shape the quality of artistic products and for the arts to be firmly embedded in the curricula of primary and secondary schools.
Reacting to comments made by theatre director Chris Gatt, who hit out at successive administrations for appointing non-professionals to decision-making roles, University lecturer Mario Aquilina agreed that politics and art needed to be separated.
“There is too much politics in our cultural scene. Party politics should not determine the direction – art is all about freedom.”
Asked to comment on the outcomes of the forum, Mario Aquilina supported creative thinker Edward de Bono’s suggestion that jobs should be redesigned to allow for a three-day working week, with the rest of the week being devoted to artistic work. Referring to the National Sport School located in Pembroke, Dr Aquilina suggested the setting up of schools of artistic excellence.
The arts – both visual and performance – should form part of the weekly timetables of primary and secondary schools. Government schools had very little exposure to the arts when compared to Church and independent schools.
Party politics should not determine the direction. Art is all about freedom
“Art should not be open just to those who can afford to pay. How can we appreciate art if children are not exposed to it?”
He fully supported English professor and chair of the digital institute Ivan Callus’ argument stressing the need to strengthen discernment. It was not enough to go for what sells – one should go for what sells and is of high quality.
Project manager of Science in the City Edward Duca referred to the emphasis on professionalism and on quality and called for the internationalisation of artistic products.
“An interesting point brought up by (managing director of Shadeena Films) Martin Bonnici is that the tendering process does not cater for quality because you always have to go for the cheapest quote, which is not necessarily that of the highest quality.
“I think it’s a good idea to have a professional on public bodies to sift through proposed applications in light of quality.”