Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/527016
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 JUNE 2015 42 This Week Valletta Design Cluster to aim for urban rehabilitation The Valletta 2018 Foundation announced that the area behind Auberge de Bavière, known as the Old Abattoir, will be given a new lease of life by means of an extensive regeneration project that will be starting this year. VALLETTA 2018 Foundation Chairman Jason Micallef said, "This project is a clear example of how Valletta as a European Capital of Culture, is working on projects intended to have a lasting legacy and bring about substantial re- sults. This is among the main in- frastructural projects of Valletta 2018, intended to intertwine ur- ban rehabilitation in Valletta with strategic needs of the cultural and creative sector". Micallef added that the creation of work opportunities in the field of design, will be made concrete by means of the Valletta Design Clus- ter. This should have a lasting im- pact on the way students take deci- sions regarding creative carriers. The Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Owen Bonnici said, "The Valletta De- sign Cluster will be addressing the priorities of the Structural Fund 2014-2020 programme. This pro- vides assistance for the creation of incubators and spaces equipped for creative industries". The design sector currently employs 1,200 people in 600 en- terprises in Malta and Gozo. The Valletta Design Cluster structure for assistance will be drawn up in a way that the potential for export and innovation will be exploited to the full by the private sector. This would create new employment op- portunities for artists, designers and other creative professionals, especially young people. Bonnici also highlighted that the Valletta Design Cluster will be of- fering residencies for artists and design experts allowing assistance and collaboration between Mal- tese creative enterprises to flourish while making international oppor- tunities in the field possible. Professor Richard England con- firmed the need for a space such as the Valletta Design Cluster for new enterprises which need sup- port and opportunities for collabo- ration. "The strength of a space of the sort is in the way it will be bringing creative people together in one space, on a regular basis. It will also be providing formal and informal work spaces, as well as others for discussion and collabo- ration in a stimulating environ- ment where ideas can be trans- formed into job opportunities and successful creative carriers," Prof. England said. Caldon Mercieca, a Manager at the Cultural Directorate who is leading the project, noted that the main building, situated at the heart of the Old Abattoir, was built in the 17th Century and had sev- eral functions over the years. It was originally used as an abattoir and was later transformed into baker- ies and residencies. Over recent years however, the building fell into disuse and the site is now in a state of abandon- ment which negatively affects the historic building itself, as well as businesses and residents in the area. Mercieca continued that the Valletta Design Cluster, a new entity under the responsibility of the Ministry responsible for Cul- ture, will be overseeing the reha- bilitation of the building and the creation of spaces dedicated for individuals, companies and or- ganisations in the field of design, within it. The Cluster will be offer- ing assistance to new companies in the field of design and work to create links with educational insti- tutions including the University of Malta and MCAST, is underway. As a result, new graduates coming from several sectors will be able to start up new creative companies with the help of the Valletta De- sign Cluster. Over the next three years, the Valletta Design Cluster will be working hand in hand with the Restoration Department for the necessary works and alterations allowing the new use of the build- ing, to be carried out. Works will be undertaken in full respect to the residential and urban structure of the area. In fact, several meetings and workshops focusing on the impact of the project on the com- munity, have already been held. The preliminary works on the ac- tual building, which are planned to start in summer, will consist of the full cleaning of the building and extensive efforts to restore danger- ous parts of the building. "The strength of this project will be that it will bring creative people together in one space, on a regular basis" – Richard England From left: Caldon Mercieca, Jason Micallef, Owen Bonnici and Richard England The Old Abattoir will be converted into the Valletta Design Cluster