Wednesday the 16th of February will see an outstanding collection of vernacular art reach Malta at the best possible time: Carnival is coming. This exhibition of 55 prints of unique, cinematically inspired artwork – created for the renowned Viareggio Carnival between 1966 and 2010 – will be augmented by two highly entertaining cultural talks on carnival traditions in Tuscany and Malta.

This event will further enhance cultural ties between Malta and Italy by showcasing carnival-rich traditions in both countries, giving revellers a reference and inspiration for a much-cherished, popular event. It is a must-see for visitors with a keen interest in carnival history and traditions, film and design students, and carnival artists.

The event is organised by EuropaCinema Viareggio, Viareggio Carnival, Malta International Short Film Festival, Cinema Heritage Group and Mr. Tony Cassar Darien (former Artistic Director of the Manoel Theatre), and is hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute

This exhibition showcases the distinctive, cinema-themed artwork created for the renowned Viareggio Carnival, which draws vast crowds of local and international visitors with its artistic skills, topical comedy and political satire. It will be inaugurated by the Italian Ambassador, H.E. Efisio Luigi Marras, during a reception at the Italian Institute of Culture. A delegation from the Viareggio Carnival will also be in Malta to inaugurate the exhibition.

The event will also feature two fascinating symposia illustrating the rich social and cultural histories of the Versilia region (Tuscany) and Malta, while highlighting their traditional links.

The Tuscan seaside resort of Viareggio is rich in carnival and cinema history, having hosted movie stars and film crews from the nearby major Tirrenia Film Studio throughout the first half on the 1900s, while always welcoming Maltese holidaymakers and carnival enthusiasts who have been visiting this Art Deco destination throughout the decades.

This event is the first in a series, including the 2011 Malta Short Film Fest, to take place from July to September 2011.

The inauguration kicks of this event on Wednesday the 16th of February at 6.30pm and the exhibition ends on Friday the 4th of March 2011

The opening times are Monday toThursday from 9am to 5pm and Friday from 9am to 2pm.

Entry to all parts of this event is free.

The organisers said they would like to thank Visitmalta.com, part of the Ministry for Tourism and Culture for their support towards this event.

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