First Annual Euro-Med International Conference on Cultural Relations

First Annual Euro-Med International Conference on Cultural Relations

Digital arts, game fund and knowledge institutes new themes and partners

'We are looking to collaborate on undergraduate and graduate programs in Art and Design, Digital Arts and Digital Games.' With this request Vince Briffa, working at University of Malta at the Department of Digital Arts, Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences, addressed to Gertrud van Dam. In January Vince Briffa and Saviour Chircop, Dean of the faculty, visited Utrecht for an intensive introduction programme.

Creativity and entrepreneurship
It wasn't really a coincidence that Jan Pieter van Seventer (JP), Dutch Game Garden, only just arrived from his visit to Malta where he attended the official launch of the Malta Game Fund. No big surprise that Vince and Saviour spend almost a whole day at the Dutch Game Garden, discussing cooperation and meeting young artists. How to combine creativity with entrepreneurship was the theme that came along several times during their stay. For example in the meeting with Cindy Dekkers and Stephan Aarts, successful creative entrepreneurs in fashion with their Designer Café, both already introduced in Malta.

Global Game Jam
They came at the right moment to attend the start of the 5th Global Game Jam: a worldwide event in which young artists and students develop a new game in 48 hours. Visiting the Utrecht University of Applied Arts, faculty Art, Media and Technology in Hilversum, they had the possibility to experience the vibe. At the same weekend Caldon Mercieca, Ministry of Culture, came especially to attend the Global Game Jam. With JP Caldon developed ideas for Malta to participate next year.

These visits and new contacts already led to a follow up. JP will participate in the Malta Game Fund as an advisor, and the two knowledge institutes are making concrete steps towards exchange and cooperation.

Malta and Utrecht continue cooperation despite end of 2018 candidacy

End of November Utrecht got the news that the city was not shortlisted and is no longer candidate for European Capital of Culture 2018. Of course this jury decision was a big disappointment. Being a sportive loser the city of course congratulated the Dutch cities on the shortlist (Leeuwarden, Eindhoven and Maastricht) and wish them luck for their second round. Utrecht looks back at an interesting process that provided the city with new cultural alliances and close contacts with Malta. Being candidate was an inspiration.

Support from the rock

After this news Utrecht received heartwarming messages from Malta. Indeed, through the years Malta and Utrecht have been developing good cooperation projects in a friendly atmosphere. The support we experienced through all the mails was just what we needed. It was good to hear that not only Utrecht is happy with the ongoing cooperation. From both sides there is the wish to continue this.

Some quotes: 'You must be really disappointed and heart broken after all your work. Disappointment is an understatement. That is seriously bad news. I am very, very, disappointed.'

'While expressing our shared disappointment at this news, rest assured that I am very much still interested in collaborating with Utrecht's cultural programme and look forward to meet you again soon to discuss this! For us this does not change anything at all. We are keen to foster continued good relations with Utrecht in spite of this setback. It has been a delight co-operating with you and I look forward to co-operating further in future.'

New music, digital arts and games, cultural education, museum themes, restoration of the fortresses: in a broad scale of themes cultural organisations, artists and knowledge institutes continue to work on exchanges and projects.

Yet again: to be continued!

Interactive learning in cultural heritage

End of October the Ministry of Tourism and Culture organised a network meeting in the Maritime Museum for teachers at secondary schools and workers in cultural organisations. The subject was the meaning of cultural heritage and the challenges to develop a new public young public and a role in education for cultural heritage. Caldon Mercieca adressed to the City of Utrecht for a specialist in museum and education, and with success. The City of Utrecht is always happy to cooperate in these kinds of requests. Errol van de Werdt, former head of collection at Central Museum, therefore was one of the lecturers, along with Peter Jenkinson from London. After a general story by Liam Gauci, curator at the Maritime Museum, about hidden stories in quiet regular objects, it was Errols turn. With his lecture 'With different eyes, Different approaches and possibilities in the interpretation of cultural heritage and building narratives in a new era' Errol approached the theme from the perspective of museum professionals: how school based educators can contribute to Participatory and Interactive Learning. Errol gave good examples about the practice of Centraal Museum and other national and international Museum Studios. As a part of their visit to an exhibition visitors can practically work hands on with the theme of the exhibition, like sewing your own clothes after a fashion design exhibition. All theoretical and practical examples mentioned inspired the professionals to develop their own methods in the framework of Valletta 2018.

First ideas for cooperation on 2018 impact and evaluation

Cabrales and University Utrecht quiet present in Malta

For the third year the National Museum of Fine Arts and the City of Utrecht worked together to contribute to the Notte Bianca Festival. Sandro Debono, senior curator of the museum, and Gertrud van Dam, City of Utrecht, choose Cabrales, an amateur saxophone band that would certainly make a lot of noise. And that worked out fine! They played the especially rehearsed film music that many people recognized and enjoyed. This year we also had the possibility to use the current ministry of Tourism and Culture, the future seat of the museum. Many people gathered to listen to the music and see the enthusiasm of the musicians. They themselves were really thrilled to perform on such beautiful sites.


Apart from the festival a small delegation from Utrecht was in Malta for several meetings in the framework of European Capital of Culture 2108. One of them was about the possible research collaboration in the impact study for ECoC2018. A representative from the University of Utrecht, School of Governance presented the Utrecht monitoring and evaluation (M&E) method and exchanged on this with representatives from the University of Malta and team Valletta2018. In the meantime other meetings tok place in which the possibility was discussed to have an exhibition on the famous architect Rietveld in Malta, along with ideas to connect parties involved in serious gaming and ICT in Utrecht and Malta, and further cooperation with Utrecht Centraal Museum and Museum of Fine Arts. The Utrecht delegation attended, along with cultural key players, the reception that was organised by the Dutch ambassador. In this tight schedule this visit was again representative for the multiannual cooperation between Utrecht and Malta. Yet again to be continued.

Mayor Dingli visits Utrecht and adores Miffy

On a sunny day in August Alexiei Dingli, Mayor of Valletta, visited Utrecht. He got an introduction to the city accompanied by Gertrud van Dam. They visited the House of Miffy, the part of the Central Museum dedicated to the world famous rabbit and the author Dick Bruna. Curator Ida van Zijl gave a short tour through the museum on architect Rietveld, another icon of Utrecht. He built the famous blue-and-red chair and the Rietveld-Schröder House.

Also in the programme was a visit to the 'niciest museum in The Netherlands', the Street Organ and Music Boxes Museum. This museum is well known for the restoration of clocks from the Forbidden City in Beijing. Also this visit was very cheerful. Unfortunately, due to a press conference Aleid Wolfsen, Mayor of Utrecht, was not able to meet his colleague. But through the mail they exchanged kindnesses.

This visit led to several good ideas for exchanges. The translation of Miffy books to Maltese is one of them. Connecting the new media artists at The Dutch Game Garden to the new media department at Malta University is another we started working on.

Valletta presents its final bid for the ECoC

Valletta presents its final bid for the ECoC

Valletta and Utrecht sign second memorandum of understanding

By signing a Memorandum of Understanding the cities of Valletta and Utrecht agreed on collaboration in view of their shared ambition to host the European Capital of Culture in 2018. Peter de Haan, on behalf of Foundation Treaty of Utrecht/Utrecht2018, and David Felice, on behalf of Foundation V18, underlined their good contact and interest in cooperation. Since 2007 several cultural organisations in both cities have been investigating possibilities for cooperation and sharing expertise. It was also then that the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, chairman Adrian Mamo, and the city of Utrecht, alderman for culture Cees van Eijk, signed a Letter of Intent for cooperation 2008-2013-2018. Through the years this has led to mutual work visits, exchanges and performances in both music and theatre, and the development of plans for further cooperation: among others in the field of exhibitions. Furthermore both cities agreed to work together in developing a monitoring and evaluation method for the ECoC-project. This year, end of September, the saxophone band Cabrales from Utrecht will perform at Notte Bianca 2012. In this project Utrecht and the National Museum of Fine Arts cooperate for the third consecutive year.

Sandro Debono thrilled about museum cooperation

Beginning of June Sandro Debono, senior curator of National Museum of Fine Arts, visited Utrecht. As always an intensive programme was waiting for him. Accompanied by Gertrud van Dam, Christa Stoop and Hans Sakkers  Sandro visited several museums and met curators and managing directors. Sandro was struck by the quality and visions of his colleagues. Also the different ways of how the management was organised with an artistic and a financial manager was of big interest. After a few days he flew back to the island, inspired and filled with good ideas for cooperation. 

Working on the removal of the museum and facing the 2018-ambition Sandro was happy that he had the possibility to enlarge his network and discuss future exchanges. Further more he was invited by Centraal Museum (Utrecht city museum) to join the international committee that is working on a large project for 2018 regarding Caravaggio and the Utrecht school of Caravaggist painters. This happens in cooperation with Edinburgh and Toledo.

Suggestions for cooperation that came along were for example research on the Maltese collection of Dutch artworks and next its exhibition. This can happen together with Central Museum en St Catherine's Convent. In general it would be interesting to work on long term loans with several museums in Utrecht. But also inspiring lectures by managing directors from the museums would be really nice. In the following months Sandro and Heritage Malta will work on the operational meetings along with the museum people involved.

Creative entrepreneur Cindy Dekkers advises INVEX

Malta and Utrecht Invest in Excellence

Cindy Dekkers, managing director of Designer Café in Utrecht, spent some intensive days in Malta last October. This visit will soon have a follow-up: Cindy is asked to be a mentor for the fashion project, give the candidates training sessions and in that way share her experience and knowledge.

Utrecht is famous for it's creative industry and cultural entrepreneurs. One of the initiatives is Designer Café, a fashion house in the city centre. Collections of Dutch fashion designers are produced, promoted and sold there. It has everything in-house; you can shop, create a unique outfit, you will meet designers, fashion-loving public and you can join professionals at one of the many workshops. Designer Café is co-financed by the City of Utrecht and the European regional development fund.

Cindy was the right person to judge business plans for INVEX, a fund for entrepreneurs in creative industry. 5 companies are selected for funding and coaching. The following three years Cindy will be involved in the process along with her colleague Stephan Aarts. Being involved in ABSRD for gaming and social media he will advice entrepreneurs in the gaming industry.

For Cindy this is an interesting experience. 'I was touched to see how people in Malta work hard to get things done. I'm convinced that connections between Malta and Utrecht can be beneficial for the whole creative industry. ' Cindy and Stephan want to connect different projects and disciplines to enlarge the local knowledge and the market and develop a sustainable network.

Check: http://www.designercafe.nl/english
And http://www.absrd.com/Home.html

Panel of evaluators for Malta’s European Capital of Culture bid

Article published on 13 January 2012

The Ministry for Tourism, Culture and the Environment as the National Managing Authority responsible for organising the selection of Malta’s European Capital of Culture has announced the names of the panel of evaluators who will be assessing Malta’s bid for the title of European Capital of Culture for 2018.

A selection panel of 13 members is set up to assess the applications of cities bidding for the title. Seven of the panel members are nominated by the European institutions, and six are nominated by Malta. These are: Mr Mario Azzopardi, director of the Malta Drama Centre, theatre director, poet and journalist, Prof Vicki Ann Cremona, an academic specialising in theatre studies and a diplomat, internationally renowned architect Prof Richard England, Prof of Philosophy, poet and playwright Joe Friggieri, Ms Cynthia de Giorgio, curator of St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, and Mr Sandro Zerafa, Paris-based musician and artistic director.

The seven European members are: Mr Constantin Chiriac (Romania), former vice-chairman of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the national theatre Radu Stanca; Mr Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), Director-General of Graz 2003 and manager of many European projects who has acted as chairperson of former ECOC Evaluation Panels; Mr Steve Green (UK) consultant and researcher in cultural policy; Sir Jeremy Isaacs (UK), television producer and executive, and former General Director of the Royal Opera House and Covent Garden; Mr Jordi Pardo Rodriguez (Spain), scientific coordinator of the Culture Lab at Barcelona Media Foundation. He directs and develops projects in Europe, Latin America and Asia; Ms Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former Minister for Culture, MEP and member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, currently chairwoman of many national and international cultural organisations; and Dr Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), a member of the Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Culture and local councillor in Austria.

The panel members were chosen on the basis of their substantial experience and expertise in the cultural sector, in the cultural development of cities or in the organisation of a European Capital of Culture. The structure of the evaluation panel guarantees a balance between local and national interests whilst safeguarding the European dimension.

The panel will convene for a pre-selection meeting next week in Malta to assess the application presented by the candidate city of Valletta.

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=138102

Official call for candidates in The Netherlands

At 12 December the Ministry of Culture sent out the official call for Dutch candidates with the ambition to become Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018. The perfect date for SICA (Dutch Centre for International Cultural Activities) to organise an EUROPE DAY on which Henk Heikamp announced the start of the competition on behalf of the Ministry. Delegations from various cities were present. The City of Utrecht was represented by Han Bakker, Bram Buijze, Thomas Nova and Gertrud van Dam.

On the programme were speeches by Neil Peterson and Beatriz García telling about the Liverpools' experiences as ECoC 2018. Liverpool is a good example of a bid that had a big support from the city. In the final programme many citizens were involved, for example in Creative Neighbourhoods and Volunteer Exchanges. Neil and Beatriz also gave a report on the impact on cultural capital, the theme of the day.

Off course Utrecht is already working hard on the bidbook. The first draft is expected 1 November 2012, so there's work to be down. As someone said: 'The heat is on'!

Central Museum and Heritage Malta

Two colleagues of the Centraal Museum (CM), Errol van de Werdt (director Collections & Research) and Renger de Bruin (curator for Utrecht History) visited Malta to talk about proceeding museum contacts in the framework of European Capital of Cultural 2018. Maltese counterparts of Heritage Malta (HM) like Martin Spiteri, Pierre Bonello and Luisana d’Amato, whom they know from earlier meetings both in Malta and Utrecht, welcomed them on the island. Errol and Renger visited several museums and sites: the Archaeological Museum and the Armory in Valetta, the Hypogeum and the Hagar Quim temples, as well as the well equipped laboratories of HM.

The scientific expertise at HM and the experience of CM in collection policies and management (visits to the depot Utrecht impressed Maltese colleagues highly) offer possibilities for knowledge exchange. Errol gave a presentation for the HM staff on several museological issues. His lecture was titled “from collection policies and strategies to implementation, the Centraal Museum case” Most debate arose from the deaccessment topic (removing objects from a museum collection). Renger gave a presentation at the University of Malta on the historical background of Utrecht art in the 16th and 17th centuries, related to the current Bloemaert exhibition.

For exchange of exhibitions various possibilities exist. Malta is interested in topics like the Leidsche Rijn excavations, the Teutonic Orde, the Utrecht Caravaggists and Rietveld. HM has important and attractive collections like prehistoric temples, the Roman period, the Knights of St. John and also Caravaggists. From the museological point of view there is a special interest in the field of collecting/deaccessioning, accessibility of collections and the case of central storage for collections.

De Bruin and Van der Werdt met also with David Felice, who coordinates the nomination of Valletta for 2018. He confirmed his interest for Utrecht as the Dutch candidate for 2018 in view of the cultural relations that have been built during the last years. Together we'll move onwards!

Miss Ophelia in Malta

The Utrecht based music theatre group Het Filiaal [ 'the branch'] performed the beautiful theatre play Miss Ophelia at the MITP theatre in Valletta. After performances in New York, Edinburgh and Dublin it was Malta's turn. Miss Ophelia is an ‘object theatre’ piece, based on the picture book Ophelia’s Shadow Theatre by Michael Ende. It's about an old lady collecting shadows. At night they leave her bag to tell and play the most beautiful stories. All characters are done by Ramses Graus and Mirthe Klieverik.

These performances are the result of good cooperation between Sarah Spiteri, artistic leader of the festival, and the City of Utrecht. During three shows many children from Maltese schools enjoyed the play a lot. Also the teachers were impressed.

Miss Ophelia herself is still enjoying her stay in Malta, looking over Grand harbour, looking for ..… shadows.

'Miss Ophelia was considered the highlight of the festival.  
The raw reality of Ophelia's life as characterised by solely two peolple on stage, and their simple, yet beautiful props, enthralled the boys and their accompanying teachers. It was, by far, a touching and impressive performance. The two actors deserve much acclaim for their wonderful rendition of Ophelia's life path.

Said Catherine Cachia of St. Edward's College Junior School at Malta.

Het Filiaal plays on Youth Arts Festival Malta 2011

http://www.ziguzajg.org/

Valletta's bid to become European Capital of Culture submitted

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111017/local/valletta-s-bid-to-become-european-cultural-capital-submitted.389614#.TpxL8EtpNQ4.facebook

Heritage Malta discovers Utrecht above and underground

The maintenance and development of cultural heritage is an important theme for exchanges between Malta and Utrecht. During their intensive work visit in Utrecht Martin Spiteri and Luisana Damato (Heritage Malta) discovered the city both above as underground. In meetings with their colleagues a follow up was given for the ongoing cooperation.

In the programme cultural heritage was discussed in its broad manifestations. Martin and Luisana looked at the tiniest glass fragments at Dep. Archaeologie and visited the Mansion Oud-Amelisweerd that's being restored commissioned by the Centraal Museum. And in between they enjoyed the Utrecht Caravaggist paintings, visited the underground visitors centre at Domplein and several fortresses. They experienced a lot of enthusiasm and involvement and it's obvious that several ideas for cooperation and exchanges popped up. For example about the climate control of the Hypogeum which is of great importance for the second visitors centre at Domplein.

The visit to the National Museum for Religious Art St Catharine Convent and the exhibition 'Pilgrims, on the way to Santiago de Compostela' ended the visit to Utrecht. Filled with inspiration and business cards the visit almost felt like a successful pilgrimage itself.

Utrecht icon: Architect Rietveld in Malta

Well known architect and carpenter Gerrit Rietveld was born in Utrecht. His masterpiece and Unesco Heritage Site the Rietveld House attracts many architecture lovers and tourists to Utrecht every year. Therefore it seemed a good idea to offer the honourable mister Mario de Marco a replica of Rietveld's iconic Red and Blue Chair.

It was a nice surprise to discover that Rietveld inspired Chris Briffa to design a Red and Blue Shelf. It was shown at the Malta Design Week. Off course the people from Utrecht immediately recognized it!

In this way the Utrecht icon is well known in Malta too.

Notte Bianca 2011: Utrecht well represented: music, dance and many good meetings

The festival was a good opportunity for Frits Lintmeijer (vice mayor for culture and international affairs) to visit Malta. He was accompanied by Peter de Haan and Bram Buijze (responsible for the bidbook process for Utrecht 2018), Hans and Gertrud. In a tightly scheduled programme they were fully immersed in Malta! Along the way the existing good contacts were strengthened and new ideas for cooperation were launched. A connection with a lot of potential and future.

Off course the process for Utrecht 2018 and Valletta 2018 formed the red wire in the meetings with Mario de Marco, Alexiei Dingli, David Felice and many others. With the Valletta 2018 team they shared experiences on the process and activities in that matter. Fortresses and their re-use already is a subject in which several organisations in Malta and Utrecht cooperate. Very interesting was the tour round St Elmo and St Angelo by Pierre Bonello and Martin Spiteri of Heritage Malta. The visit to the Hypogeum was in one word considered impressive, as well as the sight of the Caravaggio paintings at St John's Co-Cathedral.

Impressive was also the interest in tango. Hans Sakkers connected 10 dancers from Utrecht to tango dancers in Malta. During several milonga's tango dancers shared their passion, at Il Forn, Hotel Phoenicia and during the festival. The dancers also exchanged the typical dance music.

At the National Museum of Fine Arts the Van Doorn/Van Vugt Quartet formed the contribution to the festival in a close cooperation with the museum. For not fairly the amount of audience they hoped for, but with several people returning for more Ineke, Marc, Behsat and Steven performed with a cross over of jazz and world music. Many people who strolled through the museum rooms enjoyed the music.

The night before the festival Robert Gabriëlse, Dutch ambassador organised a welcome party for the delegation in his residence. With the company of interesting representatives from the cultural life of Malta and an extra music performance it surely was a pleasant evening.

Notte Bianca 2011: Utrecht delegation in Malta

adventurous, exciting and international
For the second time the City of Utrecht and the National Museum of Fine Arts cooperate in a contribution to Notte Bianca. Four Utrecht musicians joined in an ensemble especially for this occasion perform in the courtyard of the museum. The VAN VUGT / VANDOORN QUARTET promises 'adventurous, exciting and international' performances. The line-up and the sound of a special blend of instruments and personalities of Ineke van Doorn (vocals, piano), Marc van Vugt (guitar), Steven Kamperman (reeds) and Behsat Üvez (saz, ud, percussion, vocals) will pleasantly surprise the audience.

Make sure to attend this special experience in a special place!

Notte Bianca is a good opportunity for Frits Lintmeijer (Utrecht alderman for Culture) to visit Malta. Together with the heart of the Utrecht 2018-team – Peter de Haan and Bram Buijze – he will attend a fully scheduled programme with meetings and site visits. With the team Valletta 2018 he will certainly discuss the two processes for the bidbook and our (cultural) cooperation. The delegation will also meet several organisations in Malta that have been busy in cultural exchanges with Utrecht. Also the Maltese creative economy is on the agenda.

The days before Notte Bianca and during the festival 10 tango dancers from Utrecht and Malta will dance together (Programme). You're well invited to join!

So, see you in Malta!

ART IDEA Blog

http://artidea-artidea.blogspot.com/2011/08/valletta-2018.html?spref=fb

Launch Foundation Valletta 2018 and workshops

Malta Today

Times of Malta

Malta Media Online

Gertrud van Dam and Bram Buijze attended the official launch of the Foundation Valletta 2018 on 20 June in the beautiful Manoel Theatre. Alexei Dingli, Mayor of Valletta, and David Felice, chairman of the Interministerial Commission, illustrated the candidacy, emphasizing that entire Malta will be included in the programme. It was nice to meet Karsten Xuereb again. After having been cultural attaché in Brussels he is now the project coordinator of Valletta 2018. He warmly welcomed the small delegation from Utrecht and showed the video that Utrecht made about the vision and themes for Utrecht 2018. As always people responded positively – it is indeed an informative and funny video.

The themes for Valletta 2018 were being discussed in yet another terrific spot: Verdala Palace. By having the workshops there, the organisation put into practice that being European Capital of Culture will certainly not be restricted to Valletta. It was very nice how Gertrud and Bram were included in the discussions on the themes. They attended two workshops: '18-Creativity and Play at the Heart of Learning' and 'Cultures of Translation'. Both themes are closely connected to the themes on which Utrecht is working.

It was inspiring to attend and it was a good introduction of the Malta-Utrecht cooperation for a large group of people who are interested in the European Capital of Culture. Many showed their interest in this cooperation, for example in the 18-theme, creative industry and cultural heritage.

The Foundation Valletta 2018 will work on the first version of the bidbook, to be presented in October 2011.

Centraal Museum Utrecht and Heritage Malta: on cultural heritage

On 28 and 29 March Renger de Bruin, curator History of Utrecht and Errol van de Werdt director Collection & Research of the Centraal Museum in Utrecht visited Malta to discuss possibilities for a cooperation between Utrecht and Malta in the field of cultural heritage. Both have a long tradition of caretaking for cultural heritage with a great diversity. In the frame of the candidature for cultural capital of Europe in 2018 explanatory talks to investigate possibilities started. On the initiative of the Utrecht department of Governmental, International and Subsidies (BIS) which already has a long tradition in supporting bilateral contacts between Malta and Utrecht the first steps have been made to concretize this cooperation between the two mentioned partners.

On the basis of earlier talks it became clear that although there are historical connections between Utrecht and Malta the most topical historical issue the ‘Treaty of Utrecht’’ is not the most suitable vehicle for starting cooperative programs. In contrast to this there is on both sides an extraordinary interest in exchanging knowledge and heritage on the topics of the military Orders (the Order of St John and the Teutonic Order) and the Utrecht Caravaggist on the one hand and on the other hand in the field of museology with themes like Collecting and deaccessioning, collection management, museum storage, opening up collections etc. In cooperation with heritage Malta and the University of Valetta Renger de Bruin and Errol van de Werdt started the first talks to set up an exchange programme with lectures and workshops which is now in planning. At the end of this year the first steps for executing a concrete programme will be made as a start for further structural and more extensive cooperation,. This can be seen as a step forwards to the realisation and concretisation of the candidature of the Utrecht/Maltese Cultural capital of Europe.

Opportunities for a holistic approach of arts education - Malta, April 2011

In April Monique Corvers and I traveled on a mission to explore further exchange of arts and education between Malta and our home town, the City of Utrecht. This was my second trip. For Monique who is artistic director of music theatre Het Filiaal it was her first time on the island. As I experienced last time, it took Monique a day or so ánd an illuminating encounter with a wise old lady to grasp some of the tongue in cheek behind the Maltese practice of ‘complaining their way through life’. Report on a short journey– from culture shock to inspiration – meeting artists and other professionals working in education.

Visiting Malta in April you cannot but notice the strong presence of seasonal rituals and symbols. In December I got a taste of this through the Festa of Maria Immakulata, this time Easter was around every corner: in colors, foods and music. A splendid surprise was being taken to Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion in Mdina, the former capital and principle inland city of Malta. Seated between clergy in the shady purple illuminated baroque St Paul’s cathedral, I was tapping straight into the emotions and sounds belonging to my youth and (protestant) cultural upbringing. The experience illuminated one of the reasons Monique and I were here: to share best practices and join in collective talent building towards an effective –holistic– approach to creativity in the arts and arts education.

Thursday we saw Malta’s first full orchestral staging of Prokovjev’s Peter and the Wolf & Benjamin Britten’s Young people’s guide to the orchestra. Directed by Christopher Muscat, animated by visual artist Pierre Portelli and staged and narrated by Sarah Spiteri. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra performed in the island’s largest venue, the Mediterranean Conference Centre in the former Knights Hospitallers’ hospital. Acoustically not ideal and with more than 800 children in the house quite a challenge. An important milestone however at which the parliamentary secretary Mr Mario de Marco was present.

Monique: “I’m always interested to see how kids enter the theatre. Is there a system? How long does it take for the kids to be seated? Are they exited, are they prepared? Those things do have a major influence on the success of a show. The concert was a good starting point for discussion with our hosts: ‘What is your goal? Do you want to explain music or do you want children to experience and maybe even love music? Do you want to create a habit? That is the habit of going to concerts or theater. Or do you want to create a craving? That is you loved it so much you only long to go back?’ “

Friday morning we visited the other side of the spectrum: St Margaret’s primary school in Bormla. Being shown around and talking to the headmaster gave us a good impression of the cultural status quo at school, its dreams and its difficulties. Two teachers of the music and arts department happened to be around and gave us additional insight in their teaching practice. Trained art teachers are actually being provided for in the Maltese school system (3 hours a week!) . However the curriculum doesn’t allow integrating art lessons with other disciplines or school projects as yet.

Monique: “I’m a hands on kind of person and enjoy meeting people at work. This school building, British colonial style with high ceilings, large windows and soft wavy curtains – all light and airy – it was wonderful being there. It’s in a rundown area but there are actually quite a few reasons to envy this school. Such as weekly visiting art teachers and a special classroom for art classes. Half an hour in the headmaster’s office was a surreal experience: Charlot Cassar and his staff members craftily divided their attention between their Dutch visitors, children at the door, a frantic grandmother on the phone, a furious mother at reception and other mayhem. All the while the school atmosphere remaining warm and structured.”

A holistic approach to art education means being aware of and positioning your art project in a wider context: that of the child’s everyday life, it’s professional prospects, the school curriculum, sports, welfare, changing society etcetera. This is what Utrecht would like to bring into this exchange: to collaborate with local professionals, get inspired and inspire them to look as much to the context as to the content of an art project. Meeting both teachers and artists in their own environment was important for Monique to get a picture. After the school visit she was excited by the idea of maybe developing a whole new project, based on local stories, getting on board everybody involved in art for children: teachers, parents, artists, animators and last but not least children themselves.

Friday afternoon on the terrace of St James Cavalier Centre of Creativity we met up with a group of ten local artists. In an informal setting we recovered personal memories of when the magic of art struck us for the very first time: a big sister playing the piano, discovering acting as an escape route from bullying, being fascinated by images looking through a lens…. Our own child memories are important root material for anyone wanting to engage young people in the arts. Monique: “I would have loved to see more of the work of all the interesting people I met, hear their stories and see the work of the Band Clubs which are fascinating me. It is quite tough making a living as artist in a community as small as Malta. I do admire the ways in which art and artists are coping (we might soon need their survival skills in the Netherlands too).”

Monique: ” I was told that Malta (or Gozo) is actually the very island where the fairy Calypso enchanted Odysseus. For years on end he renounced going home to his wife. Someone told me that Maltese artists suffer from a kind of Calypso-syndrome. They go abroad, study, come back brimfull of plans and ambitions – and then life on Malta is so comfortable and they forget. I did spend some enchanting days . Having met some Maltese artists I doubt if there is any truth in that story. But it is a good story.”

Saskia van de Ree, april 2011

Information Day on the Malta EcoC 2018, March 4 2011

https://secure2.gov.mt/ECOC/home?l=1
A well-attended Information Day on the European Capital of Culture for Malta in 2018 was held on Friday 4^th March 2011, at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry in Valletta. It was addressed by Dr. Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Environment and Culture, Jacqueline Pacaud from the Directorate General for Education and Culture at the European Commission and Mary McCarthy, Director of Programmes and Deputy Director for Cork, the European Capital of Culture for 2005. It was introduced by Caldon Mercieca, Culture and Audio Visual Co-ordinator at the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, Culture and The Environment.

Dr. de Marco underlined the fact that the winning bid for the title of European Capital of Culture has to tell its story in its own particular way. Malta's will include both its Euro-Mediterranean dimension and the involvement of its citizens. Moreover, he stated that the regulatory framework of the cultural sector is being revisited in order to ensure and support an integrated framework of cultural infrastructure. What are being targeted are not just physical buildings, but the actual governance structures. These changes will integrate cultural objectives within wider social and economic obligations. This requires the participation of both the public and the private sector. There is the need to place culture high on the national agenda, and among the top tiers of economic regeneration. The draft cultural policy, for example, already spells out the need of consolidating cultural activity as an important facet within Malta's economic potential.

Mme Jacqueline Pacaud explained what the European Capital of Culture project consists of. This project gives rise to the most visible European cultural events in scale and scope, and publicises the cultural excellence of a city. Projects should build on a city's roots and identity but also focus on their European dimension. Projects have to be forward-looking and involve different stakeholders across a city's society. The title can only be given to one city which can involve the region around it. Moreover, if a member state only presents one bid, there is no guarantee that it will be successful, because that bid will still have to fulfil all the established criteria and show that it can deliver a successful and sustainable programme.

Ms Mary McCarthy illustrated the process for the European Capital of Culture in 2005 in Cork in Ireland. She described it as a long 'conversation' that went on over a number of years. She stated that it was a long and tortuous process, but very valid to go through since culture helps a city realise and achieve its full potential. Ms McCarthy insisted that the project should not only be seen as a tourist extravaganza, but that it needs to pose the basic questions to the host community such as what it can mean for its citizens, and how it can be used to shine a spotlight on the community's cultural strengths. She also said that a great European Capital of Culture Project is one which evolves a great vision, one which is authentic and honest to itself and is therefore distinct from that of other cities that have held the title.

During question time, it was highlighted that all the mayors of Malta and Gozo are supporting a joint bid led by Valletta and that this proposal has obtained cross-party support. Today's children will be the force behind the volunteer  programme that will make the project happen in 2018 and thinking and planning will have to take this factor as a basis for all considerations to be made.