Perfect date night? Open Air Cinema to return in Valletta

May 11 2022

The cinema city event at Valletta’s Laparelli Gardens is set to reopen between May 24th and 28th after a year of COVID-19 pandemic absence.

Cinema City is organised by the Valletta Cultural Agency and is free of charge for anyone who wishes to attend…and maybe take a special someone on their first date.

The event will feature Little Miss Sunshine, The Matrix, The Iron Giant, La Vita e’ Bella and Maltese film, Simshar. After the pandemic dealt an unfortunate blow, VCA chair Jason Micallef said that the event is now back for families and people of all ages to enjoy.

Arts Minister Owen Bonnici said that after a year of restrictions and enforcing social distancing, the government is finally pleased to welcome every to the cinema event and enrich our cultural sector.

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You can now buy house where Facebook was created… but you need $5.3 million

May 11 2022

For the first time ever since its construction, the Silicon Valley house where social media platform Facebook was created, has hit the market for a whopping $5.3 million.

The unassuming blue house with a painted yellow door, constructed back in the 1998, birthed one of the biggest social media platforms on earth.

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The house is made up of six bedrooms and 4 and a half bathrooms, and it had only ever been up for rent since 2004. The first tenants of the house were a 19-year-old Mark Zuckerberg along with two other companions.

Allegedly, Zuckerberg had asked if he could rent the place without even looking inside and wrote a check on the spot. Two weeks after they moved in, the house was filled with employees and engineers. The rest is history…

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Four artistic schemes amounting to €800,000 launched as part of new programme

May 11 2022

Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici launched an Artistic Development programme, managed by Arts Council Malta, made up of four specific schemes to enhance the development of artistic talent and communities for both local and international platforms.

The four schemes, amounting to €800,000, include the Project Research and Development Scheme, the Project Support Scheme, the International Cultural Exchanges Scheme, and the Kultura TV Scheme. While addressing a press conference, Minister Bonnici explained that this programme is essential in developing the cultural and creative sector as these schemes will help several new artists to improve their talent.

“We will continue to invest in our culture; we will also continue to support the creative and cultural sectors whereby more artists are being given the opportunity to enhance their talents,” said Minister Bonnici. On behalf of Arts Council Malta, Director of Funding and Strategy Mary Ann Cauchi emphasised the need for these support schemes, aimed at enabling artistic excellence and community development as part of Arts Council Malta’s strategy towards achieving this goal.

The Project Research and Development Scheme enables individuals, groups, and organisations to plan, develop, be represented in, and deliver on Arts Council Malta’s strategic goals and ongoing strategy, primarily addressing creative professionals and communities by nurturing creative potential and supporting its development by encouraging co-creation, collaboration and experimentation. The scheme aims to invest in artistic excellence by encouraging levels of creative risk, investigation, and active engagement of communities—supporting quality projects, identifying talent and encouraging its development.

The International Cultural Exchanges Scheme forms an integral part of the Internationalisation Strategy for Malta’s cultural and creative sectors. It addresses international cultural exchanges, focusing specifically on the outgoing mobility of Maltese and Malta-based artists over 18 years of age and their artworks and artistic productions. This scheme aims to assist Malta-based artists when pursuing activities overseas.

The Project Support Scheme is one of Arts Council Malta’s tools for individuals, groups and organisations, whereby it encourages the active involvement of communities, whilst also promoting and supporting diversity, inclusiveness and development within the community.

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Emma Muscat with 54% chance of qualifying for Eurovision final

May 11 2022

According to betting polls, Malta’s Eurovision ambassador Emma Muscat has a 54% chance of passing on to the finals in Turin.

Emma will be performing tomorrow, Thursday 12th May 2022, hoping to earn a spot in the 66th edition of the competition. Emma will be undergoing dress rehearsals today afternoon and then moving on to perform in the Jury Show.

Here, Emma will be receiving 50% of her first votes from the jury, which will also determine what will happen on Thursday when the public votes. Malta is currently in 22nd place, with Ukraine at the top. Italy, the winners of last year’s Eurovision, are in a close second place followed by the UK’s Sam Ryder.

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