Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535324
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 MAY 2025 CULTURE A Festival of Contemporary Architecture in the Mediterranean Basin A Festival of Contemporary Architec- ture in the Mediterranean Basin was launched, a groundbreaking week-long celebration of architectural dialogue, cultural exchange, and sustainable de- sign thinking. Running from the 12th to the 18th of May, the festival is presented as part of Din l-Art Ħelwa's 60th anni- versary and is set to bring together archi- tects, thinkers, students, and the general public from across the Mediterranean region. Set in the evocative, repurposed spaces of the former St Elmo Examination Cen- tre, Ħaġra draws attention to underuti- lised and forgotten architectural sites in Malta's capital — highlighting both the potential of adaptive reuse and the ur- gency of preserving our urban heritage. The festival was inaugurated by Profes- sor Alex Torpiano, a long-time advocate for sustainable and context-sensitive ar- chitecture. In his opening remarks, Prof. Torpiano emphasised the Mediterrane- an's shared challenges, from the climate crisis to the pressures of urban growth and resource scarcity, and positioned the festival as "a space for reflection, for confrontation, for inspiration… a call to imagine the architecture of tomorrow, grounded in the lessons and materials of our past." "Building is not architecture and ar- chitecture is not merely building, just as noise is not music, and music not merely noise," Prof. Torpiano remarked. The programme includes architectur- al exhibitions from Malta and the wid- er Mediterranean, featuring work by Emre Arolat, Richard England, Corinne Vezzoni, Agnes Couvelas, Guillermo Reynés, Driss Kettani, Maurizio Oddo, Elias & Yousef Anastas, and local studi- os like A Collective, AP Valletta, 3DM Architecture, and Valentino Architects. These same architects will be present for evening talks and roundtables exploring themes such as adaptive reuse, regional- ism, architectural policy, and resource scarcity. Another key exhibition is the Documenting Differences by Text Cata- logue. Guided tours to sites like the La Serenissima - Frank Portelli Archives, Trident Park, and a reconstituted stone facility at Halmann Vella's Ħal-Far Fac- tory highlight both traditional and inno- vative approaches to architecture. Ħaġra is not only a festival - it is a prov- ocation, a meeting point, and a call to ac- tion. As the Mediterranean region faces the challenges of the 21st century, this inaugural event seeks to catalyse new collaborations and chart a future where architecture leads with care, imagina- tion, and responsibility. The festival was made possible through the support of the Minister for Lands and Implementation of Electoral Pro- gramme, and the generosity of numerous sponsors including JMV Building Sup- plies, The Farsons Foundation, Trident Park, Halmann Vella, Cuschieri Archi- tects, JCR Imports, the AGM Group, the AX Group, the Istituto Italiano di Cul- tura, and the Turkish Embassy in Malta. For press inquiries or programme de- tails, please visit: www.hagra.info Photo: Elisa von Brockdorff ICOM-Malta hosts seminar on 'Small and Independent Museums' THE Malta National Committee of ICOM (ICOM-Malta) is hosting a seminar on 'Small and Indepenedent Museums in Malta: Challenges and Opportunities', on Friday 23 May 2025 at the Maritime Museum, Birgu, in celebration of the In- ternational Museum Day 2025. The event will explore the 2025 ICOM International theme: 'The Future of Mu- seums in Rapidly Changing Communities', providing a timely platform for museum owners, curators and custodians of small and independent museums to engage in a dialogue around the unique challenges and opportunties. The half-day seminar will open with wel- come addresses by ICOM-Malta and Her- itage Malta, setting the stage for an engag- ing exchange of ideas. Insightful keynote talks will explore the relationship between national and small museums, the develop- ment of independent museum experiences and practical guidance on accessing public and EU funding for voluntary organisa- tions in the cultural sector. A strong and diverse line-up of expert speakers and pan- elists will contribute to three focused pan- el discussions addressing: Historic House Museums; Independent and NGO-operat- ed Museums and Ecclesiastical Museums. This seminar will bring together cura- tors, private owners, and cultural heritage professionals, offering a dynamic space for knowledge-sharing, critical reflection and forward-looking strategies to sustain and grow Malta's small and independent mu- seums. For more information on the seminar and poster see attachment below. Register now to secure your place: https://forms.gle/DDR9qjPFnwLTdqSv5 Participation is free, but spaces are limited.