National Book Council stopped from using MCC for Book Festival

by Gozo News · January 18, 2021

The National Book Council has appealed directly to the Government and to the Prime Minister to ensure that the National Book Council and the book industry have full access to the Mediterranean Conference Centre to hold the annual Malta Book Festival on the 10-14 November 2021, as well as the years to come.

The Council in a statement, said that it has been informed that it will not be able to use the Republic Hall for the Malta Book Festival, as it will instead be used for the “publicly-subsidised show of international circus actors Cirque de Soleil.”

The Council stressed that “after suffering its greatest economic slump ever, the book industry in Malta needs all the support it can get from the Government, however restricting our use of the MCC for the Book Festival will significantly impact the event and its revenue streams, which are crucial for the continued existence of our industry.”

It pointed out that under these particular and unprecedented circumstances, and given “the National Book Council has been the most consistent and loyal client to the MCC.”

“The Council even made use of its halls during the pandemic when other clients cancelled events – and in return we are being treated with great disregard by the MCC’s top executive and administration.”

It highlighted the fact that “last year Cirque de Soleil filed for bankruptcy and the Maltese Government’s public subsidy to this company may have very dubious legal grounds and may also be potentially illegal under EU rules.”

“It is only in Malta that a Government takes the bizarre and absurd decision to prioritise a foreign art group over its own cultural industry,” the Council said. “Even if the Government’s end objective is to promote Malta as a tourist destination, it is self-defeating if the Government does this by prioritising foreign art groups over its local creative industries.”

It argued that “the book industry is composed of small businesses and hard-working families, and the Government should come to terms with their existence.”

The Council concluded by saying, “we will welcome the Government’s intervention in this matter, in the hope this dispute is given the importance it deserves and is not dragged any further.”