The Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government has entered into an agreement with the owners of the King’s Own Band Club premises in Valletta with the aim of purchasing the property and thus protecting the Musical Society from the imminent risk of eviction.
In total, the Government has committed to invest €7.4 million for the acquisition of the property as payment for the building and an additional €1.8 million in compensation for damages to the owners in accordance with the law.
Once the purchase of the King’s Own Band Club is finalized, the Government will have invested over €28 million in acquiring the aforementioned properties.
The Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, explained the efforts being made to save band clubs at risk of eviction and stated that this work is a priority, especially in light of the fact that the Maltese festival is now recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
In total, twelve musical society premises have been successfully acquired by the Ministry to date. These are: the premises of the Għaqda tal-Mużika San Gejtanu AD 1906, the premises of the Società Mużikali Marija Reġina Marsa AD 1977, the premises of the Għaqda Mużikali Stella Levantina of Ħ’Attard, the premises of the Circolo San Giuseppe Filarmonika Sagra Familja of Kalkara, the premises of the Società Każin Santa Liena Banda Duke of Connaught’s Own of Birkirkara, the premises of the Società Mużikali Antoine de Paule of Raħal Ġdid, the premises of the Società Mużikali Stella Maris of Tas-Sliema, the premises of the Għaqda Mużikali San Pietru fil-Ktajjen of Birżebbuġa, the premises of the Għaqda Soċjo-Mużikali Anici of Ħal Qormi, the premises of the Società Filarmonika Santa Marija of Mosta, the premises of the Società Sant`Andrija of Ħal Lija, and the premises of the Banda 12th May in Ħaż Żebbuġ.
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