Working for a common goal
Yesterday’s National Conference about cleanliness is a result of the work done during the past years during which we have worked tirelessly to raise awareness on the importance of a clean environment.
We want to work together towards a common goal, which is to provide cleaner spaces in our country for everyone to enjoy.
We have been working on a national plan since the first days of holding office in 2013. A plan that saw to the strengthening of our economy and finances, bringing about surplus to benefit all. The budget presented for the coming year is yet another example of where this Government is going. With a sound economy, we can bring to fruition our goals. And a better environment is one of them.
And by a better environment we are not only looking at more recreational spaces, not only looking at more open spaces for all families to enjoy, but also a cleaner and healthier environment.
This is already being done, however it’s important to keep on building on the good work which is has already taken place. We want to work towards providing a service of excellence, by looking into increasing the frequency and services which are on a 24/7 basis due to the fact that there’s an increase in the demand in this sector, especially in prominent and popular places.
To get the best results we need to get all involved on board, not only the entities and authorities working in this sector, but also all citizens. As one team we need to believe in a cleaner country, leading all to work towards this common aim – from which all of us will profit.
I thank all those who are working in this sector for the important work they do. We should keep emphasising the importance of cleanliness and that this Government is committed to further strengthen the quality of standards for the benefit and efficiency of our citizens.
I was delighted to inaugurate an exhibition by students at the Junior College this week. Titled Being Calypso – Being Ulysses, the exhibition is based on the Venice Biennale Maltese Pavilion for 2019 - set up by students resulting from creative workshops focusing on OUTLAND, the film installation by Vince Briffa for the 58th edition of the Venice
Art Biennale.
The workshops looked at the film installation and its relevance to teenage manifestation of obsessive love and desire as a starting point for discussion.
The workshop followed an introspective methodology as a process in art-making.
I always praise these kind of initiatives in the culture sector, as this forms part of our outreach strategy to further ensure that culture and the arts are present in our society from an early age. Through this project, these students have familiarised themselves with the Malta Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale 2019 and can see how artists collaborate when there is a shared space, whilst also looking into the importance of the curator’s role in the vision and work involved in an exhibition. This Government will keep on working towards more initiatives which aid in creating a wider reach and understanding of the culture sector.
This was not just an exhibition, but resulted from the students attending workshops which were directed to adopt a self-reflexive and introspective method by looking inward instead of outward and addressing an issue or concern of a personal nature relating to their own character or that of a loved one or close friend. Students studying art were twinned with those studying language/literature and were encouraged to use drawing/writing as an introspective tool in the first phase of the project to create works which sit between art and thinking. Further work inspired by the initial drawings was developed using the media of choice of the students. The students’ progress was monitored and received feedback on their work from their respective lecturers and from Briffa as well.
The final part of the workshop included the discussion of the exhibition at the Junior College exhibition hall and other venues on campus. The exhibition is curated by the students themselves under the guidance of the artist and their lecturers and includes the whole process of the work being displayed.
The learning outcomes of this project is to help students understand the methodology used in dealing with real life issues within contemporary art practice, whilst also experience the process of translation of concept to project and product. Through the workshops, students could also understand the dynamics of working within a team and understand the importance of journaling the whole process and be selective of how they present their work in public.
The project also includes a catalogue of the students’ work to be launched at the end of the exhibition. This outreach programme was done in collaboration with Arts Council Malta which falls within the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government, with the support of Bank of Valletta plc.
This week we also officially started the festive season as the Capital City’s Christmas lights were switched on for the first time this year.
The lighting up of prominent streets in Valletta which both see numerous amounts of people on a daily basis has become a yearly anticipation for those who have the festive season at heart. It is through such various initiatives that we work towards strengthening Valletta’s cultural product.
The switching on of the Christmas lights is the first among the Valletta Cultural Agency’s initiatives for ‘Christmas in the City’, a programme of events for
Valletta taking place during the festive period. The public is invited to visit Valletta coming Monday 25th November at 17.30 for the switch-on of a Christmas tree in Castille Square, which will remain on site for the coming weeks.
Without going into details, as I already had the occasion to express myself, as an end note, I want to thank all those who by various means showed support for the happenings after the Parliamentary Session on Wednesday.
I will continue to look forward to work, as I have been doing these past years, to better and strenghten this country and leave a better Malta not only to this, but also the upcoming generations.