Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/199842
16 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2013 Future Capital for Culture dissected TEODOR RELJIC A 50-minute documentary on Val- letta's role as European Capital for Culture in 2018 has provided one of the most wide-ranging assessments of Valletta's – and by extension, Malta's – upcoming candidature as a hub of culture in 2018. Created by James Spiteri in partial fulfilment of the Master of Arts degree in Creative Industries at the London Metropolitan University, 'Is Malta ready for 2018?' – which can be watched on YouTube – features interviews with various key players in the Valletta 2018 arena, as well as artists and academics giving their take on the proposed developments set to take place over the next five years. Spiteri grants the opening gambit of the documentary to former Valletta 2018 Foundation chairman, the architect David Felice, who when asked whether he believes Malta to be ready to take on the title of European Capital for Culture says "hopefully not". "I think that any country that is ready to become a Capital for Culture shouldn't be part of the process," Felice says. Though it's peppered with similarly sweeping statements – like V.18 Artistic Programme director Marc Cabourdin's observation that "there's good art, and there's bad art… the rest is just crap" – Spiteri elegantly marshals his interview footage into a clear and distinct set of themes that succeed in presenting a varied picture of how different people perceive the V.18 phenomenon. The idea of Malta as Capital for Culture automatically dredges up some interesting related subjects which may otherwise have lain dormant, and the documentary dedicates a generous amount of time to the fiercely contested subject of national identity. This turns out to be the most interesting chunk of Spiteri's audiovisual study, with illustrator and theatre practitioner Jimmy Grima claiming that most of what we purport to be "Maltese cultural identity" is "a fabrication". Ever since Malta joined the European Union, Grima argues, James Spiteri narrating his 50minute documentary 'Is Malta ready for 2018?' it has felt the need to create an identity based on "popular" elements of Maltese culture and folklore, even if these elements – such as the ftira and traditional folk dance – may not in fact have the necessary historical clout to be properly "traditional". Linguist Leanne Ellul meanwhile argues that the "less informed" majority of the Maltese population may not be sensitive enough to Malta's history, and therefore relies on the media to fill this void – a problematic situation since, Ellul argues, the media always comes with its own bias. This is a concern echoed by University of Malta theatre studies lecturer John Schranz, who says that "if you go to the village cores, you can sense what the Maltese culture is…" It's a "relational" culture, according to Schranz, where the social make-up of the community itself and the relationships automatically depict a picture of Maltese culture. Beyond that however, Schranz argues, "the media" pushes a "dream" that reduces culture to being simply a commodity. Perhaps Spiteri's documentary comes across as effective because it collates concerns that are normally discussed in isolation under one 'roof', so to speak. In fact, David Felice's reflection on national identity is that the Maltese simply haven't had the opportunity to reflect on it all that much, given how rapidly Malta's national status evolved from World War II onwards (from colony to independence and more recently, becoming an EU member state…) Prime Minister Joseph Muscat takes the opportunity to flex a 'progressive' side of his political inventory while being interviewed by Spiteri, suggesting that not all Maltese traditions are sacrosanct, and that in fact, he would be in favour of "doing away" with any traditions which may hinder the country's progress (while stopping short of giving and concrete examples). More concretely, Muscat observed that perhaps, culture was seen as operating in isolation to other aspects of Maltese life – like the economy – and that priority should be given towards creating a more concrete link between cultural life and the rest of Maltese life. Contacted for comment, a spokesman for the Valletta 2018 Foundation said that "The Foundation agrees with the statement of the Prime Minister when he says that culture cannot be seen in a vacuum from other elements like productivity and the economy. "In fact, the Foundation believes that culture can increase its contribution towards the productivity and the economy of the country. This is underlined by the Foundation's endorsement of the government's efforts towards the consolidation of the Creative Economy," he added. Asked to isolate the most pertinent conclusion of his study, James Spiteri noted that, contrary to the popular perception of a "brain drain" of Maltese creatives and artists, "with advancements of technology, there is an interesting thing happening: quality artists are opting to include elements of the Maltese culture in their work, so as to give it a certain flavour". In doing so, according to Spiteri, "people are questioning their identity and traditions and looking at them from different angles. Coupled with the number of young Maltese furthering their studies abroad, a certain level of objectivity is being fostered". treljic@mediatoday.com.mt WATCH 'Is Malta ready for 2018?' http://tinyurl.com/qdpjxkt Developers hint at shift towards redevelopment rather than new constructions JURGEN BALZAN DEVELOPERS in Malta are re- nowned for having a fondness for constructing new buildings despite the substantial number of vacant properties in Malta. However, the Malta Developers Association's 2014 Budget proposals indicate that developers might embark on a new direction and turn their attention to redeveloping existing properties rather than build new ones. The association's president Michael Falzon yesterday admitted that current circumstances demand a "change of direction" and urged developers to realise that the redevelopment of urban areas is profitable. "Developers will certainly resist such changes, however we need a culture change," Falzon said, adding that such a change can be facilitated if village cores which were being neglected "at an alarming rate", as well as Gozo, are granted the status of Special Designated Areas. Such areas already exist in Malta and Gozo, primarily in high-end developments such as Portomaso, Tigne Point, SmartCity, Pender Place and Fort Chambray. Currently the status is granted to prime residency areas, however MDA is proposing that these are extended to village cores in Malta, such as Balzan, Lija and Attard and the whole island of Gozo. In Special Designated Areas, the conditions of acquisition of property are the same for Maltese and foreign residents, and EU nationals can purchase a secondary home without necessitating a permit. Buyers, whatever their nationality, are exempt from the requirement of obtaining an Acquisition of Immovable Property (AIP) permit and once such property is acquired, it may be leased out without any restrictions. Falzon argued that Urban Conservation Areas regulations, under which village cores fall, are too restrictive and act as a "disincentive" for foreigners seeking property in Malta and for developers to invest in reviving village cores. He added that the Special Designated Area status could also be the remedy for Gozo's slumping property market, which has slowed down after a brief surge in property acquisitions by Maltese people. Asked whether a permanent link between Gozo and Malta would boost the Gozo property market, Falzon said that the association is neither for nor against the construction of a bridge or a tunnel, adding that it was "premature" to take a stand since environmental and social impact studies have not yet been carried out. During the press conference held yesterday, MDA vice-president Sandro Chetcuti explained that the association had presented its proposals to the government some time ago and was making them public in the run-up to the 2014 Budget which is set for 4 November. Among the MDA proposals, Chetcuti underlined a bold demand for a one-time concession for the year 2014 to those who do not own any property and are buying a property for the first time in their lives, so that they will not pay stamp duty. The government receives over €90 million in general duty paid on documents, both property and other forms of transactions. The MDA said it wanted a substantial reduction in the MEPA tariffs so that houses and properties in these old areas are renovated, even when this involves demolition; removal of Capital Gains Tax on the transfer of property in these localities and a tax of 15% on profits will be paid only after the relevant fiscal receipts are presented which show that VAT has been paid; and that all the village cores should be given fiscal incentives as Special Designated Areas. The association also called for incentives so that new buildings would exceed the EU's energy-saving objectives. Chetcuti said a system of 15% withholding tax on residential rents should be introduced, with the option of paying the normal tax rate on income. An important measure proposed was that, as a temporary measure, the Inland Revenue Department should accept the valuations any architect gives to a property so long as that architect is responsible for the valuation they give. A property price index, which is being discussed in the BICC, is yet to be established. Other measures proposed by the MDA included: a government scheme so that ground rents on its own prop- erties rented out are converted to a freehold property in way that encourages investment on the site within five years. They also called for the minimisation of bureaucracy in land researches in a full process that will see all properties registered with the Land Registry, along with a refund on that part of the tax paid on VAT where Capital Gains Tax has been paid at a rate of 12% on the value of the sale; and encouraging the sale of property to foreigners through the Malta Retirement Programme and further marketing of property sales. Falzon and Chetcuti pointed out that these proposals were presented to finance ministry officials and said they were confident that a number of proposals would be included in the 2014 Budget. "A number of proposals were positively received, while some others were received less positively," Falzon said. However, he called on the government to endorse the MDA measures which he believed would have a positive impact on the country's economy and attract fresh investment fostering economic growth.