V18 Foundation defends show after criticism of originality
● Tritons Square show cost €103,000
Valletta 2018 Foundation executive director Catherine Tabone has defended the Valletta 2018 opening ceremony amid public criticism that one of the four shows closely resembled a show in Amsterdam called ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ in 2014.
While many enjoyed the V18 opening, which saw four of Valletta’s main squares come to life through different visual and digital performances, some highlighted that the show in Tritons Square looked very similar to one which took place in Amsterdam back in 2014. Both shows were produced by the same internationally renowned theatre company, La Fura dels Baus.
The executive director told this newsroom that the V18 Foundation had received “extremely positive feedback on the opening events, from both new audiences as well as more established cultural practitioners and people involved in the sector, including members of the ECoC Family network and Dr Tibor Navracsics, EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport who was present for the opening.”
This newsroom asked the executive director, while linking the Amsterdam event video, whether she was aware of the striking similarities between the shows. In response, she said that La Fura dels Baus is renowned for consistently offering world-class acts and specialising in site-specific performances that also reach out to new audiences.
It is important to note that the V18 Foundation has been collaborating with them for some time, including for Notte Bianca events, where their performances were put on in collaboration with local creatives coached and mentored by La Fura’s international practitioners. This was also the case for the Tritons Fountain performance, which was adapted to our specific spatial context and also included coaching and mentoring of local creatives, who then participated in the event itself.”
Asked whether the artistic director had informed her of the situation, she explained that her role is to oversee the foundation’s operations and to ensure that they are running smoothly. “As the foundation’s executive director, I do not interfere in artistic decisions. These are taken by professionals who are engaged specifically to tackle the artistic side of the organisation’s initiatives. I was informed that La Fura dels Baus are a creative group specialising in urban theatre and audience participation, and that they bring their signature creations and artistic philosophy to public spaces around the world.”
She explained, when asked about the cost of this particular show, that an agreement was concluded with La Fura dels Baus for €103,000, excluding VAT. “This included various elements such as artistic direction, music, rigging, technical and artistic crew, etc…”
She noted that around 110,000 people attended the four opening events, “events that relied heavily, or were completely based, on the participation of local artists and creatives.”
Asked to comment on statements made prior to the opening, about the legacy V18 will leave and the uniqueness of the opening ceremony given the aforementioned show, she said that the legacy is concentrated on infrastructural projects that will remain long after 2018 is over (such as Muza, the Valletta Design Cluster, the regeneration of Strait Street, the restoration of historic buildings and monuments, including the Tritons Fountain, etc.), “as well as on the augmentation of the artistic skills of our creatives through participation in the cultural programme and all the artistic events that preceded it over the past few years. Legacy will also be ensured through the creation of a cultural agency for Valletta.”
She explained that Valletta and Malta have been a muse to artists for centuries. “This has allowed for the creation and re-interpretation, for the local context, of various artistic expressions that all have their own brand of individuality and distinctiveness. A case in point is the La Fura performance that was adapted to the spatial context provided by the newly-restored Triton Fountain.” The executive director also spoke of the positive feedback on the opening events received.
Asked whether one could expect any more similar shows to those which occurred around the world, she stressed that the V18 Foundation’s cultural programme was planned across a number of years and includes around 400 different offerings in various artistic fields. “There are numerous collaborations with international artists which present their performances across Europe and beyond. This does not diminish the value of what is being presented. A case in point is the involvement of the foundation in a forthcoming Picasso exhibition that has toured different countries – its value is certainly not diminished by its presentation in other cities around the world. On the contrary, it is now being brought to Malta to ensure that these artistic works are also appreciated by local audiences.”