Gozitan artist and sculptor John Grima’s design has been selected as the winner by the appointed jury for the monument to be erected in honour of literary giant Professor Oliver Friggieri.
It was also decided that the monument is to be placed in Floriana, where Professor Friggieri was born and raised.
The proposed location of the monument is near the First World War monument, on the opposite side of the monument to Dun Karm Psaila, the national poet.
Heritage Malta, under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister, announced last December, that it was launching a call for proposals for the design of a monument to Professor Friggieri, who had passed away the previous month.
Through the call, interested artists were invited to submit designs for a figurative bronze monument, which indicatively had to be completed in time to be unveiled in November this year, in order to coincide with the first anniversary of Professor Friggieri’s passing away.
The process was coordinated by Mr Mario Cutajar, Heritage Malta’s Executive Director and Principal Permanent Secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister.
Heritage Malta explained that further to the publication of the shortlisted submissions in January, and following the required discussions with the artists concerned, the appointed jury selected John Grima’s proposal.
The indicative budget for the design and construction of the monument is circa €100,000, all inclusive.
The other two shortlisted submissions, by Chris Ebejer and Lino Bianco, have been recommended for an honourable mention by the jury, and will therefore be awarded the prize money as per article 5.11 of the expression of interest.
Heritage Malta and the jury, on behalf of the Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government, and on behalf of the Office of the Prime Minister, thanked all the artists who participated in this call for proposals.