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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 FEBRUARY 2022 4 CULTURE VCA launches cultural programme for the first half of 2022 THE Valletta Cultural Agen- cy has announced its Cultural Programme for January – June 2022. The Programme includes new productions and collabo- rations, with the involvement of several artists, that mark the essence of Valletta's cultural, artistic and social fabric. The programme features collaborations with the pres- tigious ~Italian chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Teatru Malta, the Mal- ta Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cappella Sancta Catherinae Choir, the Public Broadcasting Services, the Malta Film Com- mission and several individual artists, government entities and the business community. Valletta streets and piazzas will be transformed in cascades of colour, gardens will take a new life and the Grand Har- bour will be celebrated as part of the VCA programme. The first half of 2022 includes DRAGO – a VCA and Teatru Malta collaboration inspired by the life of the Valletta born and bred legendary profession- al snooker and pool player To- ny Drago. April brings about a production of Mozart's Requi- em – a masterpiece that will be performed with the participa- tion of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the 40-strong choir of the Accademia Nazi- onale di Santa Cecilia, estab- lished since the 1500s in Rome. Holy Week will see Seba' Visti - a televised choral per- formance by Cappella Sancta Catherinae to be aired on local television stations. May brings about the Valletta Green Festival; a weekend ded- icated to environmental con- cerns in the city, action against pollution and the promotion of biodiversity. The community-curated open-air film screening series Cinema City takes place at Lap- arelli Gardens in June. Finally, the Valletta Pageant of the Seas welcomes summer while cele- brating the Grand Harbour and its role in the lives of Valletta residents. This year's spectacle will be dedicated to the 80-year anniversary of the arrival of the Santa Maria Convoy. The Stada Stretta Concept's programme continues with, amongst others, a literary evening dedicated to Oliver Frigieri's works. The Valletta Design Cluster will also be running various programmes including the EIT Urban Mobility Hub, the inter- national photographic contest Wiki Loves Folklore, Wikime- dia CEE Spring, the Valletta Design Cluster Membership Drive, Design Talks and Green- house Course. The Minister for Nation- al Heritage, the Arts and Lo- cal Government José Herrera who officially launched this programme, said that during these months, we shall be see- ing several cultural activities with a mix of visual arts, per- forming arts and much more. Every element will help to fur- ther strengthen culture, which is very important and loved by the Maltese and Gozitan peo- ple. Valletta Cultural Agency Chairman Jason Micallef said that as the world is facing nu- merous challenges, old and new, it is crucial that now more than ever the need for arts to take centre stage. After all, arts offer tools for living – to con- sole or delight, or enrage, or challenge or revitalise percep- tion. The Chamber of SMEs CEO Abigail Mamo and the Teatru Malta Artistic Director Sean Buhagiar were also present and addressed this launch. Valletta Cultural Agency CEO Catherine Tabone said the Agency is thrilled to be once again hosting events, both large and small, to heal the collec- tive trauma we have all experi- enced. She concluded by invit- ing everyone to join the Agency on this journey of cultural re- generation. April: Seba' Visti shwoing from 10-16 April. Filmed in 2021, Seba' Visti is a choral performance by Cappella Sanctae Catharinae choir featuring thoughts and observations written by members of the community, mirroring the scared ritual of the Seba' Visti which takes place on Good Friday. This performance is being broadcast on television on Holy Week.