Malta Biennale 2026 Granted Patronage of UNESCO
Malta Biennale 2026, which will open in just under a month’s time, has been granted the prestigious patronage of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, following the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency the President of Malta last year. UNESCO’s Director General congratulated the promotion of intercultural dialogue and arts and described this initiative as one which is in line with the mission of UNESCO.
Organised by Heritage Malta, the Malta Biennale this year marks its second edition, after the international contemporary art platform was launched in 2024. Since the first edition, the Biennale has achieved international success and has received significant international exposure from a number of newspapers and magazines in various countries – placing Malta firmly on the global contemporary art calendar. This second edition, which has internationally renowned curator Rosa Martínez as its Artistic Director, is also receiving considerable international media attention, with Malta being identified as a preferred destination alongside seven others to visit during the Malta Biennale, which will be taking place between mid-March and the end of May.
More than 130 artists from over 40 different countries around the world will be participating in the Malta Biennale 26. Their creativity will be showcased in an international exhibition and across 27 national and thematic pavilions spread over 11 museums and historical sites managed by Heritage Malta in Valletta, Birgu, Xagħra and the Citadel in Gozo.
The official opening of the Malta Biennale will take place on March 10 at the Sacra Infermeria, Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta. Mario Cutajar, Chairman of Heritage Malta, founder and President of the Malta Biennale, expressed his satisfaction that UNESCO has chosen to grant its patronage to the Malta Biennale. “At its core, the Malta Biennale is a dialogue, a link, between the past and the present. Through contemporary art, inspired by and presented alongside Malta’s cultural heritage, this dialogue comes to life by addressing current subjects and themes while simultaneously referencing history, thereby opening new horizons to all those visiting this international exhibition. Founded on this important premise, the Malta Biennale is a unique platform which does not compete with any other biennale. This is what distinguishes the Malta Biennale and what attracts patronage such as that of UNESCO,” concluded Mr Cutajar.
The Malta Biennale is organised by Heritage Malta in partnership with Arts Council Malta, Visit Malta, the Valletta Cultural Agency and Public Broadcasting Services. The Malta Biennale is also being held in full collaboration with the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and the Ministry for Gozo and Planning.
The Malta Biennale is online: www.maltabiennale.art
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Verżjoni bil-Malti
IL-UNESCO TAGĦTI L-PATROĊINJU TAGĦHA LILL-MALTA BIENNALE 26
Meta l-Malta Biennale, li se jiftaħ ftit inqas minn xahar ieħor, diġà għandu l-patroċinju distint tal-Eċċellenza Tagħha l-President ta’ Malta, issa se jkun qed jittella’ wkoll taħt il-patroċinju prestiġjuż tal-UNESCO, l-Organizzazzjoni tan-Nazzjonijiet Magħquda għall-Edukazzjoni, ix-Xjenza u l-Kultura. Id-Direttur Ġenerali tal-UNESCO faħħar id-djalogu interkulturali u artistiku li jippromovi l-Malta Biennale u feraħ lill-organizzaturi għal din l-inizjattiva li hu ddeskriva bħala waħda li taqbel ma’ dik tal-UNESCO.
Il-Malta Biennale huwa mtella’ minn Heritage Malta u din is-sena se jkun fit-tieni edizzjoni tiegħu wara dik inawgurali fl-2024. Dal-biennale kiseb suċċess internazzjonali sa mill-ewwel edizzjoni tiegħu u ngħata prominenza internazzjonali minn għadd ta’ ġurnali u rivisti f’bosta pajjiżi, tant li poġġa lil Malta fil-kalendarju dinji tal-arti kontemporanja. Din it-tieni edizzjoni, li għandha bħala Direttur Artistiku lill-kuratriċi ta’ fama internazzjonali Rosa Martínez, ukoll qed tingħata prominenza fil-media internazzjonali tant li Malta ġiet indikata bħala destinazzjoni favorita flimkien ma’ seba’ destinazzjonijiet oħra biex wieħed iżurha waqt il-Malta Biennale bejn nofs Marzu u tmiem Mejju.
Se jkunu qed jieħdu sehem fil-Malta Biennale 26 iktar minn 130 artist li ġejjin minn iktar minn 40 pajjiż differenti minn madwar id-dinja. Il-kreattività ta’ dawn l-artisti se tkun qed tintwera f’wirja internazzjonali u f’27 padiljun nazzjonali u tematiku mifruxa fi 11-il mużew u sit storiku ta’ Heritage Malta fil-Belt Valletta, fil-Birgu, fix-Xagħra u fiċ-Ċittadella t’Għawdex.
Il-ftuħ uffiċjali tal-Malta Biennale se jkun qed isir fl-10 ta’ Marzu fis-Sacra Infermeria f’Dar il-Mediterran għall-Konferenzi fil-Belt Valletta. Mario Cutajar, Chairman ta’ Heritage Malta u l-fundatur u l-President tal-Malta Biennale, wera sodisfazzjon li l UNESCO għażlet li tagħti l-patroċinju tagħha lil din it-tieni edizzjoni tal-Malta Biennale. “Il-Malta Biennale fil-qofol tiegħu huwa djalogu, ħolqa, bejn ilbieraħ u llum. Permezz tal-arti kontemporanja ispirata u murija flimkien ma’ dak li hu patrimonju Malti, dan id-djalogu jieħu l-ħajja għax jiddiskuti temi tal-lum b’referenza għall-istorja u b’hekk jiftaħ orizzonti ġodda lil kull min iżur dawn il-wirjiet. Mibni fuq dawn il-kunċetti, il-Malta Biennale huwa uniku u ma huwa f’kompetizzjoni ma’ ebda biennale ieħor. Dan hu dak li jiddistingwi lill-Malta Biennale u dak li jiġbed lejh patroċinju bħal dak tal-UNESCO,” temm jgħid is-Sur Cutajar.
Il-Malta Biennale, imtella’ minn Heritage Malta, għandu wkoll bħala msieħba ill-Kunsill Malti għall-Arti, Visit Malta, il-Valletta Cultural Agency u l-Public Broadcasting Services. Il-Malta Biennale qed jittella’ wkoll bil-kollaborazzjoni sħiħa tal-Ministeri għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali; għall-Affarijiet Barranin u t-Turiżmu; u dak għal Għawdex u l-Ippjanar.
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