It’s no secret that the performing arts can have a lasting, positive impact on a child’s life. The stage is a creative escape to an imaginative world that initiates the development of invaluable life skills and cherished memories.
Thus, with the third edition of the highly-anticipated Maltese Islands Festival (MIF) swiftly approaching I would like to share my reasons why I believe the performing arts can be such an important aspect of a child’s development.
The performing arts build confidence in young people by encouraging them to step outside of their comfort zones and into a world of creative expression. They help children to think on their feet and learn how to master their nerves, by building a sense of trust and self-reliance that can be carried through to school, social activities and their future careers.
Children may also learn important life-skills – such as teamwork, concentration and effective communication – within a safe, fun and supportive environment. Art programmes also help children to express and understand different emotions, situations, people and manifest empathy by teaching how to see things from varying perspectives.
Besides offering a unique performance opportunity – which is open to artists aged four to 18+ – the festival has an amazing atmosphere bursting with budding artists who are showcasing their work and talents. It’s a super place to support one another, meet other performers and inspire each other.
As a proud member of the British and International Federation of Festivals – which has been supporting community festivals and creating performance opportunities for children and young people for almost a century – the MIF helps young performers as it is another experience for them to perform in front of an audience. Participants will receive feedback about their performance from the adjudicator sent over by the federation.
The Maltese Islands Festival 2019 will take place between January 23-27, and the deadline for applications is December 3. To apply, or for a full list of categories in each performance department, visit www.themalteseislandsfestival.com.