Minister for Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela has announced the outcome of an intergenerational project between members of the elderly community and sixth form art students in Gozo.

The project was divided into three parts in collaboration between the Ministry for Active Ageing, Active Ageing and Community Care (AACC), the Il-Hagar¦Heart of Gozo Museum, Heritage Malta, and the Sir M. A. Refalo Sixth Form.

The aim of this initiative was to foster intergenerational connections by bringing together members of the elderly community and art students to explore the world of art and create their own interpretations of works displayed at the museum.

The first event in the programme held at Il-Hagar was – Museum Connections: A Creative Journey Across Generations – consisted of a public talk titled – How to Understand a Work of Art – delivered by Mario Cassar, a Sir M. A. Refalo art lecturer, who explained how to analyse and survey works of art. Following which attendees were asked to choose a work of art displayed at the museum and describe it in writing.

The descriptions were passed on to Sixth Form art students to create their own interpretation of the works based on these descriptions with the support of art lecturer Mario Cassar.

The second part, which was held today at Il-Hagar, when elderly participants and students met to discuss the similarities between the actual works on display and the art creations that were completed by the students.

The third part of the project, which was also today, when all participants were invited to visit the Ggantija Temples where they were joined by another group of students who are studying history. Following an informational talk by a Heritage Malta curator, the groups were encouraged to discuss together themes related to this historic site.

The Active Ageing Minister said that intergenerations projects have several benefits both for children and/or young people and for the elderly.

He explained that these programmes help to strengthen unity in the community and solidarity between generations, reduce loneliness and have a positive effect on the health and quality of life of the elderly.

“I encourage there to be more interest and cooperation between youth and elderly associations. We would like to promote the sense of social responsibility in our communities, and art, culture and sport are just a few means to achieve this goal,” concluded Minister Abela.

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