Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1300177
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 OCTOBER 2020 5 ART the social and intellectual well-being of any society." Internationally established artist Aus- tin Camilleri, member of the visual arts subcommittee states that his internation- al projects have been either cancelled or postponed and he is currently working on a series of long-overdue paintings, putting site-specific installations and projects on hold. "It is not unusual for a visual artist to have months of drought but it's the cli- mate of uncertainty that frustrates most". Norbert Attard founder and director of Valletta Contemporary and Meta Foun- dation describes how his gallery makes significant financial investments each year to bring international artists to our shores. The calendar is set well in advance and the 2020 programme was almost en- tirely cancelled with the gallery shutting down until next year. The nature of some exhibitions is focused on the artistic con- cept as an experience rather than an actu- al sellable object. Elyse Tonna, cultural manager and cu- rator, believes the pandemic highlighted and further exposed the precarious situa- tion and general attitude towards the cul- tural and creative sectors. Although these have experienced significant growth over the past ten years, there seems to be sig- nificant hurdles to overcome. "The slow- paced reaction to a recovery plan and low recognition that creatives are also con- tributors to our economy and more im- portantly our wellbeing, are just a couple of factors which reinforce the notion that the outlook towards the arts and culture should be improved." COVID-19 is taking away far more than financial stability or cancelled plans. It is affecting the artists' identity and produc- tivity. A recovery plan will further moti- vate creative professionals to be part of a community that wants the arts to be back on their feet. An economic report by EY on crea- tive industries in the EU shows how the visual arts mark the highest turnover out of all the other creative industries with a staggering €127.6 billion across the EU. Whilst placing second in employment rate just after performing arts in Malta being a visual artist is rarely considered a career, spaces are limited and the few pri- vately run galleries are constantly facing an uphill battle. Our so-called art industry requires a stimulus to enable the ecology to survive and grow in the coming year. This will re- quire both the public and private sectors to work together to secure new collabora- tions and investment. Government must ensure that current spaces will survive and more spaces for the visual arts are developed. MEIA's proposals also include specific measures for the visual arts such as funds for the purchase of works of art created this year and support to galleries for safe re-opening. The importance and relevance of our sector has been under- mined for too long and this pandemic has continued to highlight the dire situation. Professional artists are already consid- ering leaving their professional practice and we don't want people to leave our shores because of lack of opportunity and recognition. We don't want artists to feel demotivated. We don't want to see more arts spaces close down. We don't want to feel like we are not relevant enough in our own country. We encourage and urge Government to acknowledge the impor- tance of the arts and to follow all other European countries whose recovery and survival plans have been announced months ago and offer a plan which will not just help the sector continue where it left off, but recognise it as essential to the recovery of the nation. Maria Galea is founder of ARTZ ID and chair for MEIA visual arts sub committee recovery plan