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26 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 AUGUST 2014 THIS WEEK CULTURE | TV | FILM CINEMA LISTINGS FOOD | WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK How would you describe the evolution of Ziguzajg, from its beginnings to now? Explosive! The festival stems from the excellent collaboration between a number of artists, cul- tural organisations and govern- ment entities who are committed to deliver an excellent artistic ex- perience for young audiences. Although the festival started as a weeklong event, it has now evolved in an ongoing project by St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, pos- sibly developing into one of the most dynamic festivals for young audiences in the region. What would you say is the secret behind its enduring success? The positive growth of the festi- val is inspired by the increase in the number of young people interested in the arts and the encouragement of schools and parents who believe in the value of the arts. The diversity of the festival pro- gramme is also due to the commit- ment and engagement of Maltese artists, who are devising more exciting new work for young audi- ences. What is the most significant challenge for a children's festival in particular? What were some of the things you needed to be sensitive to, and what did you learn from one edition to the next? Ziguzjag is the first festival ex- perience for most children at- tending. Through the festival, a significant number of children are experiencing their first theatre, dance or music performance. This exciting opportunity comes with huge responsibilities for the festival and the artists involved. Therefore our challenge is to en- sure that each festival component reaches a high level of excellence and a memorable experience for all. Some perceive art for children as some cheerful activity or glo- rified animation to keep them occupied for an hour. Ziguzajg commissioned artists and visiting companies are very meticulous in researching their work and in pre- senting it in the most imaginative way possible. So yes, some work may be cheer- ful but other pieces may be chal- lenging, at times even contro- versial. And not every work for a young audience has to have some pedagogical objective. Ultimately, we're in the business of creating art, although the simple act of par- ticipating in the arts is educational in itself. In terms of programming the big- gest challenge is finding multiple venues that can stage the various parallel performances held in Val- letta every day. In addition, pro- gramming for young audiences is more complex than other festival genres because each performance and event is designed for specific age groups ranging from early years to teenagers. How did you go about selecting local talent to participate in the festival? What were some of the factors you looked at? Our festival mantra is to de- liver the best programme because young audiences deserve the best artistic experiences. Devising the programming for the festival is a two-year process, which includes an open pitch session and talent scouting to develop certain ideas proposed by the festival. Every January we hold an open pitch session for any artist to come forward with ideas. As festival di- rector I'm interested in age-appro- priate, innovative and contempo- rary work across all artistic genres, which may also develop beyond the lifespan of the festival week. The open door policy allows art- ists to share their ideas with other artists, often leading to new col- laborations. We then discuss the shortlisted projects at length and invite the artists to develop further their concept. After a six-month research proc- ess, we invite all participating artists developing commissioned work for the festival to a two-day sharing seminar. During this semi- nar the artists share their work in progress with each other and with an international director invited by the festival as an external monitor. In September all artists are re- convened for a final workshop to present their progress, discuss logistics and share some tips on international touring, accessibil- ity and learning programmes for Ziguzajg, a children's festival with an increasingly positive reputation, lets children and young people take over Valletta to discover the wonderful world of the arts. MaltaToday spoke to Festival Director Toni Attard on what makes these events special. The kids are alright...