The Malta Biennale Foundation is established
The Malta Biennale Foundation has just been set up with the aim of strengthening this international contemporary art festival, held every two years by Heritage Malta primarily within its historic sites and museums. This Foundation, which falls under the responsibility of Heritage Malta and forms an integral part of it, was created jointly by the agency and the government through the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government. The decision to establish the Foundation was taken by Cabinet on 10th March of this year.
The Malta Biennale is currently in its second edition. The inaugural edition, held two years ago, achieved immediate success. In 2024, some of the world’s leading contemporary artists took part, and the Malta Biennale attracted significant international media attention, with several outlets naming Malta as a top destination during this new international art festival. In that edition, more than 2500 artists from over 100 countries applied to participate, and 14 thematic or national pavilions took part.
The success of the Malta Biennale 2024 was confirmed by a survey carried out at the end of the event in May of that year. Over 80% of Maltese respondents stated that the Malta Biennale is not only necessary for the country to showcase and deepen appreciation for its heritage, but also essential for artists themselves and for the local artistic scene. More than 75% of the artists said they were satisfied with their experience at the Malta Biennale and would encourage other artists to take part in future editions.
The second edition of the Malta Biennale is currently underway, building on what began in 2024. Internationally renowned artists are participating, and applications for the 2026 edition have increased by around 30%, surpassing 3200 submissions. The number of pavilions has also grown – in fact, they have doubled since two years ago, with more than 50 applications to choose from.
This edition of the Malta Biennale is being held across 11 Heritage Malta sites and museums, and spans 11 weeks until the end of May. At the halfway point, attendance is very encouraging, with all participating sites reporting a notable increase in visitors. The Biennale locations are in Valletta, Birgu, Xagħra, and the Ċittadella in Gozo.
The Malta Biennale enjoys the patronage of the President of Malta and UNESCO. Two years ago, the President of the Malta Biennale and Chairman of Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, explained that the Malta Biennale’s unique concept attracted UNESCO’s prestigious patronage because its aims align closely with those of UNESCO. Equally significant, he added, is the patronage of the President of Malta, which reflects national commitment to the Malta Biennale.
“The decision to establish this Foundation shows that the Biennale requires permanence, and permanence comes through structure. Through this Foundation, the Malta Biennale will continue to establish itself as a major cultural event in our islands, as a showcase of Maltese heritage, and as an anchor securing Malta’s place on the international contemporary art calendar. All this while remaining true to its core concept: serving as a bridge between history and the contemporary, as a link between generations, and as a way to better understand the present by drawing inspiration from the historical experiences of the past, so that we may look forward with greater confidence,” said Mario Cutajar during the establishment of the Malta Biennale Foundation.
The Foundation was formally established at MUŻA, the National Community Art Museum and the ‘home’ of the Biennale, through a contract signed before Government Notary Dr Keith German. The contract was signed by Mario Cutajar as Chairman of Heritage Malta and by Kevin Mahoney, Permanent Secretary representing the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government. Present for the signing were Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive Officer; Kenneth Gambin, the agency’s Chief Operations Officer; and Russell Muscat, Manager of Heritage Malta’s International Department. Mr Zammit, Mr Gambin, and Mr Muscat are members of the Executive Board of the Malta Biennale Foundation, while Mario Cutajar is its first President.
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
Titwaqqaf il-Fondazzjoni għall-Malta Biennale
Għadha kemm twaqqfet il-Fondazzjoni għall-Malta Biennale, bl-għan li jissaħħaħ dan il-festival internazzjonali tal-arti kontemporanja li ttella’ kull sentejn Heritage Malta primarjament fis-siti storiċi u l-mużewijiet tagħha. Din il-Fondazzjoni, li hija responsabbiltà ta’ Heritage Malta u parti integrali minnha, twaqqfet bejn l-istess aġenzija u l-gvern permezz tal-Ministeru għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali. Id-deċiżjoni għat-twaqqif ta’ din il-Fondazzjoni ttieħdet mill-Kabinett tal-Ministri fl-10 ta’ Marzu li għadda.
Il-Malta Biennale jinsab fit-tieni edizzjoni tiegħu. L-edizzjoni inawgurali tal-Malta Biennale saret sentejn ilu u kisbet suċċess immedjat. Minbarra li fl-2024 kienu pparteċipaw fih uħud mill-aqwa artisti kontemporanji fid-dinja bħalissa, il-Malta Biennale ġibed l-attenzjoni tal-media internazzjonali, b’numru minnhom iqiegħdu lil Malta destinazzjoni favorita għal waqt dal-festival internazzjonali tal-arti ġdid fuq ix-xena internazzjonali. Għal dik l-edizzjoni kienu applikaw aktar minn 2500 artist minn aktar minn 100 pajjiż u ħadu sehem mal-14-il padiljun tematiku jew nazzjonali.
Is-suċċess tal-Malta Biennale 2024 kien muri mill-istħarriġ li kien sar lejn tmiemu f’Mejju ta’ dik is-sena. Aktar minn 80% tal-Maltin stqarrew li l-Malta Biennale mhux biss meħtieġ għall-pajjiż biex juri u jikseb aktar apprezzament għall-patrimonju tagħna, imma meħtieġ ħafna kemm għall-artisti nfushom u għax-xena artistika lokali. Iżjed minn 75% tal-artisti qalu li huma sodisfatti b’dak li esperjenzaw fil-Malta Biennale u lesti jinkoraġġixxu artisti oħra jipparteċipaw fl-edizzjonijiet sussegwenti tiegħu.
Bħalissa għaddejja t-tieni edizzjoni tal-Malta Biennale, li kompliet tibni fuq dak li nbeda fl-2024. Artisti ta’ fama internazzjonali qed jipparteċipaw f’din l-edizzjoni u l-applikazzjonijiet għall-Malta Biennale 2026 żdiedu mat-30% u qabżu t-3200. Il-padiljuni wkoll żdiedu, anzi rdoppjaw minn sentejn ilu u kellha ssir għażla minn aktar minn 50 applikazzjoni.
Din l-edizzjoni tal-Malta Biennale qed issir fi 11-il sit u mużew ta’ Heritage Malta u hija mifruxa fuq 11-il ġimgħa sa tmiem Mejju li ġej. Bħalissa, meta l-Biennale jinsab f’nofsu, il-konkorrenza hija waħda inkoraġġanti ħafna, bis-siti kollha li qed jospitaw dal-festival internazzjonali jirrapportaw żieda notevoli fil-viżitaturi. Is-siti tal-Biennale jinsabu fil-Belt Valletta, fil-Birgu, fix-Xagħra u fiċ-Ċittadella t’Għawdex.
Il-Malta Biennale għandu l-patroċinju tal-President ta’ Malta u tal-UNESCO. Sentejn ilu, il-President tal-Malta Biennale u Chairman ta’ Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, kien qal li l-kunċett uniku tal-Malta Biennale ġibed lejh il-patroċinju prestiġjuż tal-UNESCO għax il-miri tal-Biennale huma l-istess bħal dawk tal-UNESCO. Daqstant ieħor, kompla s-Sur Cutajar, huwa sinifikattiv il-patroċinju tal-President ta’ Malta, għax dan jixhed l-impenn nazzjonali għall-Malta Biennale.
“Id-deċiżjoni li titwaqqaf din il-Fondazzjoni hija turija li dan il-Biennale jinħtieġ permanenza, u l-permanenza jagħtuha l-istrutturi. Permezz ta’ din il-Fondazzjoni, il-Malta Biennale se jkompli jistabbilixxi ruħu bħala avveniment kulturali ewlieni fil-gżejjer tagħna, bħala vetrina tal-patrimonju Malti u bħala ankra li żżomm post Malta fil-kalendarju internazzjonali tal-arti kontemporanja. Dan kollu mingħajr ma l-Malta Biennale jitbiegħed mill-kunċett ewlieni tiegħu li jservi ta’ pont bejn l-istorja u l-kontemporanju, li jkun ħolqa bejn il-ġenerazzjonijiet, u li jservi biex nagħrfu aktar l-illum billi nispiraw ruħna mill-esperjenzi storiċi tal-imgħoddi ħalli nħarsu ’l quddiem b’aktar fiduċja,” qal Mario Cutajar waqt it-twaqqif tal-Fondazzjoni għall-Malta Biennale.
It-twaqqif tal-Fondazzjoni sar fil-MUŻA, il-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti tal-Komunità, li huwa d-‘dar’ tal-Biennale, permezz ta’ kuntratt quddiem in-Nutar tal-Gvern, Dr Keith German, liema kuntratt ġie ffirmat minn Mario Cutajar bħala Chairman ta’ Heritage Malta u minn Kevin Mahoney, Segretarju Permanenti f’isem il-Ministeru għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali. Preżenti għall-iffirmar kien hemm Noel Zammit, Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ Heritage Malta, Kenneth Gambin, Kap tal-Operat tal-aġenzija, u Russell Muscat, Manager tad-Dipartiment Internazzjonali ta’ Heritage Malta. Is-Sinjuri Zammit, Gambin u Muscat huma l-membri fil-Bord Eżekuttiv tal-Fondazzjoni għall-Malta Biennale filwaqt li Mario Cutajar huwa l-ewwel President tal-Fondazzjoni.
Heritage Malta għandha bħala msieħba f’din l-edizzjoni lill-Kunsill Malti għall-Arti, lil Visit Malta, lill-Aġenzija Kulturali għall-Belt Valletta u lill-Public Broadcasting Services. Il-Malta Biennale qed jittella’ wkoll bil-koperazzjoni sħiħa tal-Ministeru għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali kif ukoll tal-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u t-Turiżmu u l-Ministeru għal Għawdex u l-Ippjanar.
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