Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544842
11 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 8 MAY 2026 CULTURE MaltaPost issues commemorative EUROPA stamp MaltaPost will issue a spe- cial commemorative EUROPA stamp on 9 May 2026 to mark the 70th anniversary of Pos- tEurop, the association repre- senting Europe's public postal operators. EUROPA stamps are widely recognised as sym- bols of European unity, high- lighting the continent's shared cultural heritage, history, and values. Highly regarded among collectors worldwide, these stamps promote awareness of Europe's common roots and its ongoing commitment to cooperation and integration. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, PostEurop or- ganised a Europe-wide design competition inviting postal operators to submit propos- als for a unified commemora- tive stamp to be issued jointly across member countries. The winning design was submitted by Post Finland and created by internationally renowned art- ist Klaus Welp. Welp's design reflects the contemporary global context, emphasising the importance of peace, solidarity, and de- pendable communication sys- tems. It conveys the idea that well-functioning postal servic- es play a vital role in support- ing democratic societies and fostering trust and security among citizens. The design features a range of symbolic elements: a diag- onally ascending dotted line representing both the perfora- tions of a stamp and the pro- gressive development of Euro- pean postal cooperation; seven aligned dots signifying seventy years of collaboration among European postal operators; and a dynamic background composed of blended colours inspired by European flags, symbolising unity in diversity. MaltaPost's commemorative issue incorporates the official EUROPA design and carries a denomination of €2.00. It con- sists of 22,000 stamps, issued in sheets of 11 stamps, with each stamp measuring 31mm x 44mm, with a comb perfora- tion of 14.2 x 14.1, and bearing the Maltese Cross watermark. The sheets measure 150mm x 160mm and were produced by Printed Ltd. In the offset printing process. This new issue will be avail- able from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo. Orders may be placed online at www.mal- taphilately.com; or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost plc, 305, Triq Ħal Qormi, Marsa, MTP 1001; by telephone 2596 1740; or via email info@maltaphilately. com THE Gozo Philatelic Society announced the issue of the first in the major project of personal- ized stamps on illustrated covers featuring Gozo's Chapels and small churches. Each card will show the front of the building, with an internal shot on the stamp. The information on the back includes a further detail. This first cover has the chapel dedicated to St Anne at Dwejra. Since this is within the limits of the village of San Lawrenz, the postal cancellation was given at the San Lawrenz sub-postof- fice. Subscribers will be receiv- ing their copy later but those interested in a subscription for the whole collection (designed by GPS President Anthony "Toni" Grech) are invited to write to stamps.gozo@gmail. com. First Gozo Chapels personalized cover The Gozo Philatelic Society announces issue of the first in the major project of personalized stamps on illustrated covers featuring Gozo's Chapels and small churches Silent Echoes: Art exhibition by Joe Engerer WELCOME to an exhibition that captures the enduring beau- ty of everyday moments and the splendour of the natural world. This collection presents a har- monious dialogue between pas- toral landscapes and intimate still lifes, each work rendered with meticulous attention to de- tail and a deep appreciation for traditional artistic craftsman- ship. This journey begins with evocative scenes of Mediterra- nean life, where golden sunsets paint the sky in brilliant hues of orange and rose. These land- scapes transport us to tranquil rural settings, where horse- drawn carts traverse dutsy paths, and village life unfolds against a backdrop of ancient stone architecture and prickly pear cacti. The warm, lumi- nous skies and timeless tradi- tions depicted speak to a way of life deeply connected to the land and sea. Complementing these land- scapes are sumptuous still life compositions that celebrate abundance and sensory pleas- ure. Vibrant fruits spill from or- nate bowls, their rich colours set against brilliant blue back- grounds. Elaborate arrange- ments of flowers burst with life – roses, hollyhocks, and hydranges cascade from deco- rative vases in a riot of colour and form. Each composition is a meditations on beauty, tran- sience and the simple pleasures of earthly existence. Through masterful use of light, colour and texture, these works invite viewers to pause and appreciate the extraordinary within the ordinary – to find poetry in a bowl of fruit, drama in a sunset and grace in daily labour. This exhibition is a testament to the enduring power of representa- tional art to move, inspire and connect us to universal human experiences.