The Programme includes over 40 events and projects falling under various genres, including music, contemporary art, dance, cinema and theatre, design, opera, an artist-in-residence programme, events for Valletta residents and community members and festivals.
During the programme launch, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici said that, “thanks to Valletta 2018, we have managed to transform our capital city into a vibrant cultural hub, and through the Valletta Cultural Agency we can continue working on the legacy which the Capital of Culture has brought, whilst further strengthening our culture sector. Through the Agency we can continue to provide a sound platform to local artists, especially since through such initiatives we can broaden their artistic opportunities both locally and internationally.”
“The yearly programme is developed together with artists and cultural entities and includes collaborations which will surely maximise our country’s potential when it comes to the cultural sphere, and also serves a crucial role for the strengthening of our cultural product,” Minister Owen Bonnici continued.
A number of these projects are being produced in collaboration with various Public Cultural Organisations and other cultural entities, as part of the VCA’s promise to encourage access and participation through collaboration and creativity. Over 300 people are involved in the production of these projects, together with 15 organisations which include Valletta residents and members of several communities. Over 240 local artists and 49 international artists from different artistic disciplines will be working on these projects throughout the year.
The VCA’s Cultural Programme also includes projects and initiatives by The Valletta Design Cluster, which is set to open its doors this summer, and The Strada Stretta Concept, a Valletta 2018 legacy project for the cultural regeneration of Strait Street.
Valletta Cultural Agency Chairman Jason Micallef said that, “This is a real example of the legacy left behind by Valletta 2018. Today, Valletta has its own Cultural Programme thanks to the Valletta Cultural Agency which was set up to honour the Valletta 2018 legacy”.
Valletta Cultural Agency CEO Catherine Tabone said that, “A thriving and sustainable cultural sector fundamentally underpins the economic and social fabric of Valletta, bringing communities together, creating a platform for civic participation, employing hundreds of workers, attracting thousands of tourists, and generating millions in economic activity each year. In this context, the Agency will continue to make sure that our Capital City’s ongoing regeneration holds culture, heritage and the arts at its very core.”
The projects within the Programme encourage participation and co-creation in different artistic disciplines by Valletta’s residents, workers, visitors, stakeholders and the general public, and provide a creative platform for both established and emerging artists. Thus, the Programme will continue to strengthen the local cultural infrastructure, building upon the legacy of Valletta 2018, the European Capital of Culture, which drove social, cultural and infrastructural regeneration in Valletta during 2018 and the years leading up to it.
The Valletta Cultural Agency was set up in April 2019 to sustain and strengthen the Capital City’s vibrant cultural life through the creation of an annual programme of creative events developed in collaboration with artists and Public Cultural Organisations. A legacy of the Valletta 2018 Foundation, the VCA also upholds standards of excellence in the coordination and organisation of cultural events in the city, while encouraging access and participation by a diverse audience.
For more information and to stay updated with upcoming events and opportunities for participation, like and follow the Valletta Cultural Agency’s page on Facebook and Instagram or visit our website www.vca.gov.mt .
