La Stella Philharmonic Society in Gozo has benefitted from €6,480.00 in financing though a fund administered by Arts Council Malta.
The Society said that the funds will be used for the “continuation of investment in the facilities for members and visitors at the La Stella Band Club in Victoria.”
La Stella was one of 30 different band clubs to benefit from the ACM financing sharing a total amount of €160,000 through a fund aimed at strengthening the cultural work done by band clubs.
Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici gave the details, emphasising the significance of community engagement through arts and culture and stressed that local feasts present an excellent opportunity for the community to actively participate in diverse art forms while upholding the traditional essence that bestows our islands with a unique identity.
“Band clubs play an important community role, creating a sense of belonging and serving as a point of entry and engagement with the arts. Their activities are ongoing and while they focus to teach music to children and young people, they also organise cultural and traditional activities, which reach a peak during their main activity – the village feasts. The buildings in which they are housed, too, often contain objects of historical value and are of historical significance themselves,” Minister Bonnici concluded.
This scheme operates in collaboration with the Ghaqda Nazzjonali Kazini tal-Banda, facilitated by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Council and the Association, aiming to strengthen and streamline their partnership.
Dr Noel Camilleri, President of the Ghaqda Nazzjonali Kazini tal-Banda, also addressed the press conference, underscoring the importance of this joint effort.
The full results can be found here [1].
Photo: DOI/Kian Bugeja