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CULTURE maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 JANUARY 2020 6 RESTORATION works start- ed at the Mikiel Anton Vas- salli College (MAVC), Malta School of Art, in Valletta with an investment of around Euro- s5M. Works include the resto- ration of the façade of this his- toric building, as well as works in the interior to include full refurbishment. The works will culminate with an avant-garde School of Art with the appropriate workshops, studios and hard- ware which are requesting in order to meet the demands of good quality teaching and learning of the creative and fine arts. Besides, the building will incorporate an elevator to make this School even more accessible. The nature of the works to take place requires more than the usual two-months summer period, when gen- eral maintenance works in schools usually take place - while teachers and students are on their summer holi- days. "Works have to start now so that next scholastic year will greet teachers with an engag- ing working environment that they truly deserve. Learners will start or continue their studies in a learning environ- ment which stimulates their intellectual curiosity and orig- inality, critical thinking and novelty through the accredited courses offered at this school" informed the MAV College Principal, Victor Galea, "In the meantime, the current courses will be temporarily accom- modated at the Malta Visual and Performing Arts School in Hamrun and commence again at the newly refurbished school in Valletta by October this year." The MAVC Malta School of Art was founded in the early 20th century at 106, Old Bak- ery Street, Valletta. Since its establishment, it exerted a significant influence on the progress and artistic research of visual arts in Malta. It al- so acted as one of the prime sources of artistic education, offering formal training and scholarships to artists to fur- ther their education abroad. Amongst the most renowned artists who had their for- mal education at the Malta School of Art are: Antoine Camilleri, Victor Diacono, Harry Alden, Vincent Apap, Willie Apap, Esprit Barthet, Anton Inglott and Carmelo Mangion. The Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, Malta School of Art, aims at providing high-qual- ity education based on new methodology and research, providing a challenging set- ting for students to learn and discover their full potential. The school offers various art courses leading to qualifica- tions from Level 1 (basic) to Level 5 (Diploma). Currently, 600 learners from age six on- wards registered at the MA- VC ta School of Art. Thanks to the Foundation for Tomorrow Schools (FTS) for coordinating and im- plementing all the works to ensure that by the next scho- lastic year, Malta will have a truly Specialized School for Art Education fully equipped to host art programs. Re- search shows that Visual Art education has the potential to help improve one's mem- ory and concentration skills, to develop decision-making and critical thinking skills, to enhance communication and listening skills, but also to encourage focus and disci- pline amongst others. Galea concluded that "Any invest- ment in the Arts is an invest- ment for a better society to live in." Historical school in Valletta to be restored and renovated IT'S a new year and, now the Christ- mas theatricals are over, rehearsals are well under way for Teatru Manoel and the MADC's revival of Oscar Wilde's perpetual favourite The Importance of Being Earnest, which will be staged at our national theatre at the end of the month. With an ensemble consisting of Da- vide Tucci, Edward Caruana Galizia, Maxine Aquilina, Michela Farrugia, Marylu Coppini, Isabel Warrington, Michael Mangion, Martin Azzopardi and Edward Thorpe, under the di- rection of comedy stalwart Malcolm Galea, The Importance of Being Ear- nest promises to be one of the high- lights of the 2019-2020 theatrical season. Since its debut at the St James's Theatre on Valentine's Day 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest has been one of the most popular plays in English literature. The author was already famous for his mastery of the English language and sharp and amusing dialogue, but many agree that Earnest is the epitome of Wildean wit. The play's numerous bon mots, its 'dramatis personae' of colourful characters, and the plot's clever switches between the serious and the trivial would go on to be an inspiration for stage directors and producers in the next 125 years, with stage revivals a constant in many countries' theatre repertoires. The play has had also had its fair share of radio, TV, and cinema adaptations. The Importance of Being Earnest had already been produced to great acclaim by the MADC in 1988. The club, together with Teatru Manoel, agreed that the time was ripe to re- visit this timeless comedic love story that sees protagonists Algernon and Jack woo their respective girlfriends Cecily and Gwendolen under the for- midable eye of Algernon's aunt, Lady Bracknell. In the meantime, their ex- ploitation of a fictitious friend named Ernest allows them to escape bur- densome social obligations, leading up to some situations of both subtle humour and laugh-out-loud hilarity. Audiences new to the play and per- ennial fans are guaranteed a superb night out in the company of Wilde's comic masterpiece. The Importance of Being Earnest will be performed at Teatru Manoel on 31 January, and 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 February 2020. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8pm, and Sunday performances are at 7pm. Tickets are at €10, €20, and €25, while discount- ed tickets are available for students and senior citizens. Bookings on 2124 6389 or via www.teatrumanoel.mt. 'The Importance of Being Earnest' to be staged by Teatru Manoel and the MADC this month Isabel Warrington and Michael Mangion