‘Culture Minister Doesn’t Understand Sector He Leads’: MEIA Calls For Resignation

The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) has called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to request the resignation of Arts, Culture and National Heritage Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, arguing that his recent remarks demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the arts sector and questioning whether he is fit to lead the culture portfolio.

The association's criticism follows comments made by the Minister during the Festival of Ideas, as reported by Times of Malta. During the discussion, Agius Galea described his first four months in office as "traumatic", saying that finding creativity to be "the order of the day" had been one of his main traumas. He also said that, to him, being creative meant being "presumptuous and dangerous", questioned why productions expected to succeed commercially should receive public funding, and argued that creativity should remain within certain norms of right and wrong, warning that artists with misguided ideas could influence audiences.

MEIA said the comments reveal that the Minister "does not understand the sector he is responsible for, or the people who work in it". The association stressed that creativity "is not a danger to be contained or a trauma to be endured", but the result of years of training, professional practice and artistic development. It added that art allows society to reflect on itself, question accepted ideas and imagine new possibilities, while culture helps shape Malta's identity both locally and internationally.

The association also challenged the Minister's comments on public funding, arguing that support for the arts is an investment in research, rehearsal and preparation long before any tickets are sold. MEIA pointed out that the Government does not withdraw support from other sectors simply because they are commercially successful, highlighting the cash rebate of up to 40% offered to international film productions, including major Hollywood projects. It argued that local artists should not be judged by a different standard.

According to MEIA, this is the second time in just over two months that it has publicly responded to the Minister. In September, it criticised his comments relating to the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, saying the Minister responsible for culture should defend freedom of expression without qualification. The association said that position remains unchanged.

MEIA also claimed it has experienced a lack of communication and respect from the Minister throughout his time in office, while artists have expressed concern over other speeches he has delivered. Among these was a reported remark comparing artists to his time working at Mount Carmel Hospital.

The association said that, without mutual understanding, communication and respect between the Government and the sector, there can be no meaningful progress on issues such as fair pay, affordable creative spaces and sustainable funding. It insisted that artists are not asking for special treatment, but to be respected, fairly paid, provided with spaces to create and allowed to express themselves freely.

Alongside its criticism, MEIA launched an open letter calling for the Minister's resignation and the reassignment of the culture portfolio. It is inviting artists, cultural workers, organisations and members of the public to sign the appeal, arguing that "a Minister who sees the creative sector as a burden cannot represent it, defend it or build its future". MEIA added that the sector "does not need flattery" from its Minister, but instead "needs to be taken seriously".

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