Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1268420
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 JULY 2020 8 CULTURE Flying the flag in dark times ON July 1 most European coun- tries, including Malta, reopened their borders to international passengers and resumed airport activity. To mark the so-called 'return to normality', since re- strictions introduced by the authorities to protect us from Covid-19 have been lifted, Malta celebrated with an unprecedent- ed national fireworks show. However, normality is not af- fecting everyone the same way and the overall sentiment is that decisions are driven pri- marily by commercial inter- ests. This is why for the next three months, during the peak tourist season in Malta, Blitz Valletta has invited artist Nico Vascellari to fly his flag In Dark Times We Must Dream With Open Eyes (2019) outside its premises and in front of oth- er locations in Valletta chosen for their highly symbolic value to our society. This is the start of what we hope will become a larger demonstration. As a matter of fact, what nor- mality has left behind are are- as of society whose immaterial value is priceless, neither trad- able nor served by the mon- etary system. Areas such as culture, education, and human rights, that have not proven to be a priority of politics here and elsewhere. Challenging these principles of realpolitik, Vascellari's flag turns to the power of language to commu- nicate hope and vision. This is why, in addition to Blitz, the first chosen location is Old Bakery Street 212, home to four associations – African Media Association, Malta Mi- crofinance, Foodbank Lifeline Foundation Malta, and Blue Door English. Their commit- ment to migrants, refugees, families with low income, and the homeless has become more critical during the pandemic – with the closure of harbours and the laying off of workers in every sector – and yet their voice and efforts have mostly gone unnoticed. For the duration of the pro- ject, the general public and any interested groups are invited to purchase a flag from the artist's website and the profits of the flags bought in Malta will be distributed to the associations of Old Bakery Street 212. To embrace the collective nature of this project, partici- pants are encouraged to hang the flag outside their building and send a photograph with the street name to be included in a map that will be published on Blitz Valletta's website. We also urge the general public to reach out directly and support these associations with dona- tions and voluntary contribu- tions. Wherever it will be flying, Vascellari's flag will act as a re- minder of what really defines us as human beings, beyond money and entertainment. If normality is something to look forward to after the pandemic, it should be there for every- body. Blitz Valletta and artist Nico Vascellari invite passers-by and tourists to acknowledge the message of the flag and share it on social media with the hash- tags #normality4all #inthisto- gether. Nico Vascellari is an artist, musician and curator of the art space Codalunga in Vitto- rio Veneto. Among his most significant solo exhibitions: MAXXI | Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo, Rome (2018); Palais De Tokyo, Paris (2017); Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester (2016); Accadem- ia di Francia - Villa Medici, Rome (2016); Estorick Collec- tion, London (2016); National Gallery of Arts, Tirana (2015); Museion, Bolzano (2010); Mu- seo MAN, Nuoro (2007); Skuc, Lubljana (2006); Viafarini, Mi- lan (2006). He has also par- ticipated in the 52nd Venice Biennale (2007); Manifesta 7 (2008); 15th Quadriennale in Rome (2008); 12th Architec- ture Biennale in Venice (2010); 15th Lyon Biennale (2019). ARC first Maltese member of Culture Action Europe ARC Research and Consultancy has announced its membership in the Culture Action Europe (CAE) network as its first Mal- tese member. CAE advocates for access to the arts and participation in culture as a fundamental right of every citizen. It lobbies for public investment in culture and the arts as the main force for the development of a sus- tainable and more cohesive Europe. CAE is the major Eu- ropean network of cultural net- works, organisations, artists, activists, academics and poli- cymakers. Membership in CAE will enable ARC to participate in the network's hubs, working groups, and joint research ac- tivities, effectively continuing to facilitate connections and networks. ARC is committed to continue promoting devel- opment and sustainability of the cultural and creative sec- tors through collaboration, research, and synergy with the network. "We are excited to join Cul- ture Action Europe at an ex- traordinary time when coming together to share knowledge with other European organi- sations is more vital than ever before," said Davinia Galea, Managing Director of ARC Re- search and Consultancy. ARC Research and Consul- tancy services creation, prac- tice, and production within the creative and cultural sectors. ARC aims to promote devel- opment and sustainability of these specific sectors through collaboration, research, and synergies with local, regional, national, and international en- tities. ARC Research and Consultancy services creation, practice, and production within the creative and cultural sectors