Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1508764
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 OCTOBER 2023 4 CULTURE Maltabiennale 2024 granted the President of Malta's patronage THE maltabiennale.art 2024 has just been granted the pa- tronage of His Excellency George Vella, the President of Malta. This is the second pa- tronage for the international contemporary art festival, held between March and May of the coming year, with UNESCO granting its patronage to the biennale in August 2023. Whilst accepting with pleasure his role as patron of the Mal- tese biennale, in his letter, His Excellency also congratulated Mr Mario Cutajar, President of maltabiennale.art and Chair- man of Heritage Malta, for the way this new Heritage Malta project has been progressing. Noting the impressive re- sponse from artists globally, the President also expressed his view that having UNESCO's pa- tronage was also highly encour- aging. Indeed, the call for applica- tions to participate in maltabi- ennale.art 2024 garnered over 2,500 proposals from over 75 countries globally. The maltabiennale.art, the first of its kind for Malta, will be spread around Malta and Gozo, primarily in Heritage Malta sites. While maltabiennale.art is a Heritage Malta-led initiative, several entities have joined forc- es for the biennale, including, notably, Arts Council Malta. maltabiennale.art is also sup- ported by the Malta Tourism Authority, the Valletta Cultur- al Agency, Malta Libraries, to- gether with the Ministries for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade; National Heritage, Art, and Lo- cal Government; and Gozo. In parallel with the artistic ex- hibitions which will be the heart of maltabiennale.art, the festi- val will also include education- al and academic programmes; workshops in collaboration with local and international institu- tions; as well as a performing arts programme in collabora- tionwith several local cultural entities. maltabiennale.art 2024 will be inaugurated by His Excellen- cy, the President of Malta and will open its doors to the public on the 11th of March 2024. The biennale will remain open until the 31st of May 2024. Biennale Arte 2017