Gozo art exhibition of Art Camp 2015 and launch of Art Camp 2017

by Gozo News · November 18, 2016

Minister for Gozo Anton Refalo, has inaugurated an art exhibition of Art Camp 2015 and launched a second (Malta) edition for 2017.

The exhibition is taking place at the Cittadella Cultural Centre in Victoria.

Minister Refalo noted that the 2015 edition was an experimental edition for Malta. Art Camp has been running for almost a decade in Andorra, where it originated.

In 2015, its first edition was organised in Malta – partly at the Verdala Presidential Palace and partly in Gozo at the Villa Rundle.

"We tried out a new collaboration with a small nation like ours – Andorra. We created a new platform for dialogue – an artistic dialogue. We created a new function for the artistic language whereby the artistic product is not only or not merely a decoration but a language, with a powerful message to transmit. We experimented with an awareness campaign of a different style and nature. We wanted to transmit the values of peace in the Mediterranean by getting people engaged in a dialogue with arts and artists." said Dr Refalo.

Last year 13 artists were hosted at the Villa Rundle, and despite the inclement weather, people visited and interacted. Next year, the Ministry for Gozo said that it plans to maximise its support. A temporary Artists village in Gozo, with an artist-in-residence programme, is to be created allowing for a stronger dialogue between the artists.

"Dialogue helps us grow. Dialogue helps us grow richer. Dialogue helps us grow in peace. We would like this art residency programme based in Gozo to emphasise the importance of meaningful and multi-layered cultural exchange," said Dr Refalo.

He added, "then, further and beyond the community of artists, there is also the wider community who is to be engaged in a dialogue with the arts on peace and social activism. Therefore, Art Camp participants are encouraged to immerse and integrate. This explains the idea of having the artists public spaces including museums, schools, exhibition halls, theatres, local councils, governmental offices, and other community centres."

Local artists will be engaged as community representatives to accompany the foreign artist during their community sessions.

They will also facilitate communication with local participants with the aim to encourage artists, to promote cooperation and understanding between nations, in the context of UNESCO's international strategies for development & peace and the goals of Malta's EU Presidency towards building tomorrow's EU.

The Minister explained that Art Camp Malta 2017, in fact, will be the main cultural event in Gozo associated with Malta's EU Presidency. It will see the participation of international artists from each and every EU member state.

While committing his full support for Art Camp 2017, Minister Refalo thanked Hedva Ser, UNESCO Artist for Peace and Godmother to the international Art Camp project, the National Commissions of Andorra and Malta, the Education, Science and Culture Centre, the Permanent Delegation of Malta to UNESCO and Arts Council Malta.