Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515420
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 FEBRUARY 2024 3 CULTURE UNESCO endorses maltabiennale.art at special seminar for artists and experts MALTA is currently hosting a significant number of local and international artists who are re- searching, preparing, and build- ing their works of art to take part in the first edition of maltabien- nale.art, which will open to the public on 13 March until the end of May 2024. In total, 80 artists from 23 differ- ent countries will be taking part across 20 national and thematic pavilions. As the only biennale to be staged across multiple heritage sites, UNESCO sees maltabien- nale.art as embodying the mis- sion of the United Nations and has officially endorsed this global contemporary art festival. In the build-up to the festival, UNESCO in collaboration with Heritage Malta hosted a one-day seminar for the artists who are currently in Malta finalising their works. The focus of the seminar was to dis- cuss the relationships that should exist between the contemporary and the historical, with a special focus on the 20 heritage sites in which maltabiennale.art will be staged, many of which are among the most popular heritage sites in the country. The seminar held at MUŻA, the National Museum of Art, took the form of a workshop during which discussions were held to better understand and recognise the role of contemporary art to broaden perspectives and provide innovative ways to deepen our un- derstanding of our heritage. Other topics discussed include the best methods and means of interpret- ing Malta's colonial past through art, how curatorial perspectives and community involvement can be given more prominence, and the relationship between com- munity and heritage. Many artists joined the seminar online, along with those physically present at MUŻA, to listen to expert speak- ers from UNESCO's International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites, officials from Heritage Mal- ta, and members from the malta- biennale.art curatorial team. Art- ists in attendance also discussed their experiences and processes as part of this biennale. The works of these artists are being built at MCAST and the Valletta Design Cluster, while much of the re- search is being done at the Na- tional Library. Expert speakers at the event included: Dr Sujeong Lee, Head of Research Office at UNESCO WHIPIC; Ms Haeree Shim, Head of Education and Networking Office at UNESCO WHIPIC; Valentina Buzzi, curator and Ph.D. researcher in Cultural Stud- ies; Dr Kenneth Gambin, Chief Operations Manager at Heritage Malta; and Emma Mattei, maltabiennale. art curator. Sofia Baldi Pighi, Ar- tistic Director of maltabiennale. art, moderated the panel and dis- cussion sessions. Participants had the opportunity to engage with experts, gaining a deeper appre- ciation for heritage interpretation. maltabiennale.art has the pa- tronage of His Excellency the President of Malta and UNES- CO. This international festival of contemporary art is being held for the first time in the country and is being considered as Malta's main cultural festival for this year. The Guardian and a number of other newspapers and magazines listed Malta as a top destination throughout the maltabiennale.art, placing Malta prominently on the world's cultural calendar. malta- biennale.art will be inaugurated by His Excellency the President of Malta Dr George Vella during a special ceremony that will take place in the Throne Room of the Grandmaster's Palace on Tuesday 12 March 2024. maltabiennale. art is a Heritage Malta initiative through MUŻA, the Malta Na- tional Community Art Museum, in partnership with Arts Council Malta. Maltabiennale.art is also presented in cooperation with the Ministries for Foreign and Euro- pean Affairs and Trade, National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, and Gozo, as well as with Visit Malta, Malta Librar- ies, MCAST, Festivals Malta, Val- letta Cultural Agency and Spazju Kreattiv. With the participation of Malta School of Art, AUM, ŻfinMalta, KorMalta, Teatru Manoel, Malta Philharmonic Or- chestra, Franco La Cecla, IULM University, Milan, Department of Humanities Studies, Faulty of Arts and Tourism, Underwater Department Heritage Malta, Ar- chaeological Department Herit- age Malta and Maritime Museum Heritage Malta.