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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JULY 2014 36 THIS WEEK CULTURAL theorist and critic Mieke Bal and art centre director Maria Lind, will be among the leading speakers in an intensive one-week curatorial programme in Valletta, from September 1 to 6. The Valletta 2018 Foundation is organising this Curatorial School as part of the Valletta Interna- tional Visual Arts (VIVA), in col- laboration with St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity and with the support of the Faculty of Edu- cation, University of Malta. "VIVA, and particularly the Cu- ratorial School, is a strong and important step towards develop- ing the creative sector and espe- cially the visual arts which have not been given the necessary at- tention over the past years," said Valletta 2018 Foundation Chair- man, Jason Micallef. "The Val- letta International Visual Arts Festival is a high calibre example of the direction the Maltese crea- tive sector will be taking in the years to come". Curatorial school The Curatorial School pro- gramme is intended for prac- titioners and students in a va- riety of related areas including fine arts, art education, arts ad- ministration, curating and his- tory of art. Participants in the course will follow a programme of lectures and will also be able to present their curatorial ideas or their own art-work for feedback from invited speakers. The theme for this first edition of the Curatorial School is Curat- ing: Politics, Publics, Pedagogies. It deals with power relations in displays, social practices in curat- ing contemporary art, engaging audiences and methods of medi- ating contemporary art, alterna- tive pedagogic models and dif- ferent museum practices. Some sessions will present individual exhibitions curated by lecturers, with international artists talk- ing about their own practice and hands-on curatorial workshops. Speakers include Marina Wal- lace, Professor of Curating at the Central Saint Martins, Universi- ty of the Arts London and Artakt director, Rosie Cooper, project curator of the Liverpool Biennial and Ine Gevers, freelance curator and artistic director of Founda- tion Niet Normaal. Tutor of Contemporary Art Curating at the Royal College of Art, London, Kit Hammonds, University of London Professor of Education and Museum Studies, Pam Meecham, UK video artist Michelle Williams Gamaker and Madrid-based artists' group De- mocracia, will also be delivering talks and discussing projects. Lectures and workshops will be held at St James Cavalier, in Val- letta, from September 1 to 5 to between 09:30 and 16:00, with a final roundtable morning session on September 6. Curators in residence Maltese artists will have the op- portunity to meet Dutch emerg- ing curators Lennard Dost, Mare van Koningsveld and Suzanne Wallinga as part of VIVA the Val- letta International Visual Arts festival. The curators will be in Malta between August 24 and Septem- ber 7, to conduct initial research on Maltese contemporary art, with the aim of proposing an ex- hibition involving Maltese and international artists in 2015. Mal- tese visual artists will have the opportunity to discuss their art practice and ideas and the pos- sibility of including their work in the 2015 exhibition. Meetings will generally be held at St James Cavalier, in Valletta, though studio visits are being ex- plored. More info on www.viva.org.mt. Closing date for applications: July 18 at noon Natura 2000 is a network of over 27,000 sites across the EU. They are sites that in one or more ways excel in their natural value, and their respective government is duty bound to aord them a measure of protection. Thirty-nine of these sites are in Malta, of which ve are not on land but at sea. One of these spots is the sea around the twin bays of Għajn Tueħa and the reason for its designation is the variety of marine habitats that occur there. Along with an array of rocky, pebbly and sandy bottoms – and mixtures thereof – the site harbours good stretches of seabed where grows Posidonia, a owering plant (despite its Maltese name – alka) endemic to the Mediterranean. These so- called Posidonia meadows are important breeding and nursery sites for many coastal species of sh, molluscs, crustaceans and other marine fauna. Posidonia meadows need protection from pollution and from bottom-trawling practices that has destroyed so much of this habitat already. Text Victor Falzon Photo Desirée Falzon 411. GĦAJN TUFFIEĦA NATURA 2000 SITE Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us www.foemalta.org. You can also support us by sending a blank SMS donation on 50618070 (€4.66) or 50619223 (€11.65). GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 313: GROW BEE-FRIENDLY LAVENDER - The fragrant purple flowers of lavender make it popular with pollinating insects - and it's great to grow, because it doesn't need much watering. Heads of state discussed climate and energy issues at a recent meeting in Brussels, but their efforts to reduce dependence on energy imports are being blocked by the European Commission. The majority of EU governments want to increase energy efficiency as a way to reduce import dependence. They confirmed that they plan to reach agreement in October on a package of measures to cut climate emissions, increase renewable energy, and reduce energy demand by 2030. Analysis shows that a target of 40% energy savings by 2030 is the best choice to reduce energy imports, boost employment and cut greenhouse gas emissions. But Friends of the Earth has learned that Commissioners are recommending just 27% savings by 2030. A 27% energy savings target is incomprehensible at a time when the EU is crying out for a way to reduce dependence on imported energy. The political conditions to set an ambitious energy savings target have never been better, and the benefits have never been so clear – the cheapest, cleanest and safest energy is the energy we don't use. It's now vital that Germany, Denmark and the other countries make sure Europe gets serious on energy savings. In the wake of the situation in the Ukraine and tensions with Russia, heads of state earlier this year called energy savings the 'first step' to reduce high gas dependency rates. The European Commission's energy department responded by analysing the impacts of an energy savings target for 2030. According to the Commission's own assessment, a 28% savings target would reduce gas imports by just 16% compared to 2010 levels, while a 40% target would reduce imports by 40%. EU employment is projected to increase by 1.6% by 2030 with a 28% savings target, compared to 3.1% with a 40% savings target. But the push to prioritise energy efficiency is being frustrated by a decision by European Commission President Barroso and the energy and climate Commissioners, to recommend just 27% savings by 2030. Friends of the Earth is calling for three binding targets for 2030 (greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewable energy and energy savings) and for citizen and community- controlled renewables to be at the centre of Europe's energy policy. This is the only way to avoid the worst consequences of climate change and bring maximum benefits to the EU and its citizens. Text by Martin Galea De Giovanni Europe not serious enough on energy savings Curatorial School and Curators in Residence programme as part of VIVA Rosie Cooper Mieke Bal Photo by Bas Uterwijk Marina Wallace