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The Malta Book Festival 2024 Boosts Skills, Encourages Debate

The Malta Book Festival 2024 Boosts Skills, Encourages Debate
Nov 21 2024 Share

The Malta Book Festival 2024, themed #bindingworlds, attracted generous crowds and underscored literature’s power to unite diverse audiences. Organised by the National Book Council at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali from November 6-10, the Festival attracted both readers and industry professionals, offering a range of events that emphasised skill-building and career development within the publishing sector.

Key highlights included appearances by acclaimed international authors Anthony Horowitz, known for his crime and espionage novels, and Paul Lynch, 2023 Booker Prize winner for Prophet Song. Each brought a unique style and perspective, showcasing literature’s versatility and appeal across genres.

“The National Book Council aims to continually enhance the Festival experience for guests, exhibitors, and the thousands of visitors who attend annually,” Festival Director Simona Cassano said. “This year, we created numerous opportunities for the professional development of local literary talent, while honouring the rich cultural significance of literature,” Cassano added.

Horowitz engaged a packed audience in a lively creative writing masterclass, sharing key techniques that have sustained his bestseller success. Faber Academy’s Director of the Fiction Programme Richard Skinner offered a half-day workshop on fiction development, guiding participants through practical exercises to advance their writing skills. Both sessions gave participants valuable insights into the craft of storytelling.

Furthering its focus on professional development, the Festival hosted ‘Manuscript to Market’, where Horowitz’s literary agent Jonathan Lloyd and Maltese translator and publisher Kat Storace discussed strategies for entering the competitive UK publishing scene. Sessions on illustration, animation, printing and bookbinding provided a comprehensive look at the publishing process, enhancing the Festival’s interactive appeal.

As a crucial meeting point between industry stakeholders and local book lovers, the Festival has a key role to play in facilitating encounter, dialogue and critical conversation on Maltese literature, where readers can not only enthuse over and purchase freshly-minted books from their favourite publishers, but also engage in honest conversations about how the sector — and its output — could improve.

The space created in its pjazza area – where comfortable seating offered visitors close proximity to the café, this year managed by the Malta Community Chest Fund – was the perfect place to meet up and discuss book purchases new and old, while planning one’s trip across the 40-plus exhibitors after admiring the From Illustration to Book exhibition, whose third edition once again paid homage to book illustration while also offering an added visual ‘oomph’ to the event.

The atmosphere of open discussion was solidified further in a crucial roundtable discussion which took place on the Festival’s closing day – Sunday 10 November. Organised by the NBC, ‘Maltese Fiction: Where to Next?’ invited author and scholar Immanuel Mifsud, former National Book Prize adjudicators Maria Theuma and Omar ’N Shea and book reviewer Daniel Cossai for a discussion on the current status of Maltese fiction moderated by author and educator David Aloisio.

The decision to not award any prizes for either of the two fiction categories of the National Book Prize – Novel and Short Stories – was the initial spark for the talk, which evolved into a wider conversation about concerns related to readership rates on the island, the importance of cultivating work endowed with true ‘literariness’, while also acknowledging and creating a space for more ‘commercial’ fiction, which regularly pulls in a healthy swathe of readers.

“These events align with the NBC’s vision to empower Maltese creators – authors, illustrators, and publishers – by fostering skill development and providing a space for open, constructive dialogue about the state of Maltese literature,” Cassano said. “By addressing challenges and envisioning solutions, we hope to inspire growth and innovation in the sector.”

The Malta Book Festival will return on 5–9 November 2025, and preparations are already underway for the next edition. To stay updated on the latest developments, visit ktieb.org.mt and the Malta Book Festival Facebook and Instagram page.

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‘Politics Is Not About Likes’, Says MP Omar Farrugia

'Politics Is Not About Likes', Says MP Omar Farrugia
Nov 21 2024 Share

Speaking in parliament about the Budget 2025 expenses, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Works Omar Farrugia said that being a politician is not the same as being as an influencer without substance.

‘Politics is not about likes’, said Farrugia. ‘Politics is about substance.’

‘It’s not about being populist. It’s not about promising everything to everyone without considering reality. Politics is about linking daily work with the vision for a future.’

‘Politics is about improving the sector you are responsible for in a way that the life of people improves and to be close to those who elected you.’

This comes as the Public Works Department was allocated a €19.4 million budget for infrastructure and community projects.

Key allocations include €8.5 million for Ta’ Qali National Park upgrades, €3 million for public spaces, €1.5 million for storm-water system improvements, and €500,000 for energy-efficient public buildings.

Coastal and marine studies will receive €300,000, with €400,000 allocated to a children and youth community project.

The budget also funds equipment and property maintenance. Additionally, a landmark €10 million agreement with Local Councils will empower them to launch impactful projects that directly benefit residents, further strengthening government-community partnerships and fostering local development.

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Duct-Taped Banana Auctioned Off For $6.2 Million

Nov 21 2024 Share

A unique artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, has made headlines after being auctioned off for an outstanding $6.2 million at a New York auction.

The piece, titled ‘Comedian’, has sparked a range of discussions about art, culture, and the intersection of memes and cryptocurrency into the art world.

Cattelan described the banana work as a critical commentary on the art market, which he has previously criticized for being speculative and not offering sufficient support to artists.

According to Justin Sun, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Tron, the sale represents not just art but a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of fine art, internet memes, and the cryptocurrency community.

He believes the work will inspire future debate and become a significant part of art history.

The banana installation has had a notable history, including being eaten by performance artist David Datuna during a Miami exhibition, saying he felt “hungry” while inspecting it.

Sun, who purchased the piece, has stated he plans to honour its place in both art history and popular culture by eating the banana himself, turning his investment into a living part of the artwork’s legacy.

Cattelan also gave Sun instructions on how to replenish the banana to preserve the art piece as time goes by.

Before the auction, the banana was bought for just 35 cents from a Bangladeshi fruit seller on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

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Malta’s Climate Action Authority Celebrated At COP29

Malta’s Climate Action Authority Celebrated At COP29
Nov 21 2024 Share

At the COP29 summit in Baku, Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen praised Malta’s creation of a Climate Action Authority, calling it “best practice” and the “first in Europe.”

During a side event co-hosted by Malta, Australia, and the UAE, Bowen stated, “I want to congratulate Malta on its excellent new Climate Action Authority policy. It’s good governance, provides rigor, and Minister Dalli’s achievements deserve celebration.”

Malta’s delegation, led by Minister Miriam Dalli, showcased the country’s progress in establishing a unified governance framework for climate action.

Minister Dalli stressed the need for global collaboration to combat climate change. “This is a pressing issue that affects everyone. Bold and united responses are essential,” she said.

The discussion highlighted Malta’s efforts to integrate climate action across governance and society. Dalli emphasized, “Climate action must be central to every national agenda.”

Malta is advancing clean energy through offshore wind, solar initiatives, and the MED9 alliance, which unites nine EU Mediterranean countries to position the region as a clean energy hub.

Malta’s Climate Action Authority is key to these goals, uniting government, businesses, and society to achieve decarbonisation by 2050. CEO Abigail Cutajar highlighted the importance of collaboration, saying, “Our role goes beyond legislation—we must engage stakeholders to embrace long-term planning for everyone’s benefit.”

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