Santa Venera children keep traditions alive as they lead festa processions

Jul 28 2022

In a wholesome moment of pure local heritage, a group of children from Santa Venera have kept traditions alive as they led the local festa processions in one of St. Venera’s main streets.

The ‘Ġirja tat-Tfal’ has been a yearly tradition during the St. Venera feast celebrations which sees a few village children lead their patron saint down St. Joseph High Road with the aim of keeping Maltese traditions going strong for many years to come.

Are you participating in this year’s celebrations?

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Photo/Video Credit: Kumitat Festi Esterni Santa Venera

Shawn Mendes cancels world tour to deal with mental health struggles

Jul 27 2022

Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes has announced that, after previously postponing a number of tour dates, he will bring his entire world tour to a halt due to mental health struggles.

The 23-year-old took to social media to share that he was not prepared for the toll touring would take on his mental health and, while he started off excited to perform after a long break due to the pandemic, he wasn’t ready for what was to come.

pic.twitter.com/gq7DanGNYW

— Shawn Mendes (@ShawnMendes) July 27, 2022

Mendes put his fans mind to rest that he may be making new music and will eventually return to touring when the time is right, but for the moment he needs to put his health first and take some time to heal.

The singer launched his ‘Wonder’ world tour back in June to promote the album of the same name and was set to visit a number of Northern American cities as well as multiple locations in the UK and Europe.

If you too struggle with mental health, never be afraid to reach out. Multiple Maltese organisations such as The Richmond Foundation, MHA and Kellimni.com are always ready to listen and extend a helping hand.

Are you a fan of Shawn Mendes?

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WATCH: ‘Care Create Flourish’; Ministry launches Strategy 2025 for local arts

Jul 27 2022

Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici has published the Strategy 2025 that sets out Arts Council Malta’s vision, mission, and goals for the coming years, bolstered by its commitment towards cultural rights. Strategy 2025 lays out three overarching themes—‘Care Create Flourish’—that serve as a bridge between the Council’s strategic goals, principles, and strategic areas.

Minister Bonnici stated: “this launch brings to fruition one of the major instruments that will significantly contribute towards the implementation of the National Cultural Policy 2021. Strategy 2025 was developed in partnership with a number of stakeholders from the cultural and creative sectors, as well as members of the public who have the arts and culture at heart. It is also in tune with the policy that envisions culture being embraced for the wellbeing of all. Wider participation in the arts and culture leads to more innovation, creative engagement, artistic legacy, active citizenship, and overall enhanced wellbeing—and this is where this Strategy becomes integral.”

Strategy 2025 is based on ten guiding principles underpinned by the concept of cultural rights as defined by UNESCO, building upon the tenets of UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UNESCO recommendations on the Status of the Artist, as in Malta’s National Cultural Policy 2021.

Albert Marshall, Executive Chairman Arts Council Malta stated that, “The importance of cultural rights, when taken in the context of sustainable development goals, should be emphasised and directly related to the Status of the Artist; an outcome which is definitely more visible now than ever, more so with the challenges we have faced on a global level in the past couple of years.”

Marshall also explained that Strategy 2025 reflects the national, European, and international discourses revolving around the trajectories of cultural policy in its widest sense. The cross-sectoral interconnections, which value the intrinsic qualities of artistic expression, are brought to the forefront through this Strategy, as we aim to adopt an open, collaborative, participatory, and facilitative approach on how we implement our measures in the coming years, as well as how we want to achieve this.

The Strategy states that the Council’s vision is for “the arts to be at the heart of Malta’s future”, as embedded within its six strategic goals including: to invest in and foster diverse artistic and cultural expression; to support and promote the conditions in which Malta’s cultural and creative sectors can flourish; to advocate and provide for community-led opportunities to engage in arts and culture; to strengthen Malta’s international cultural relations to continue developing international artistic exchanges and collaborations; to nurture cross-sectoral collaborations that contribute to Malta’s sustainable development; and to facilitate cultural partners, including public cultural organisations so as to build and strengthen organisational capacity.

The Strategy 2025 document is available in English and Maltese on www.artscouncil.mt. For more information, contact Arts Council Malta on 2334 7230, on weekdays, between 09:00 and 16:00, or send an email on [email protected]

What do you think of the strategic plan?

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Miriam Dalli officially opens Victor Calvagna Garden after €1 million investment

Jul 27 2022

The Mosta garden dedicated to the memory of beloved paediatric oncologist and Puttinu Cares founder Dr. Victor Calvagna has finally been inaugurated.

In the presence Minister Miriam Dalli, Mosta Scouts and Mosta Girl Guides, together with a number of other stakeholders, it was announced that the garden received a €1 million investment financed by the Social Fund for National Development. It will include a children’s play area, physical exercise equipment, a running track, canopy area and even a zone dedicated for the planting of fruits & vegetables.

Taking over from two young representatives for the Scouts and Girl Guides, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli said that there is nothing better than an endorsement from the area’s youth. Dalli expressed her pleasure in having 4000 square-meters of open space in the heart of Mosta, as opposed to having 4000 square-meters of developed area.

Will you be visiting the Victor Calvagna Garden?

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