Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/767061
maltatoday, SATURDAY, 24 DECEMBER 2016 28 This Week Clare Azzopardi Author "The government is not investing enough in publishing" I can't complain really. The book industry is growing and 2016 has given us quite a number of interesting titles, including debut novels by Antoinette Borg and Aleks Farrugia, another novel by Immanuel Mifsud and a collection of poetry by Norbert Bugeja, just to mention a few. My picture book Mingu, in collaboration with Lisa Falzon, has won the National book prize (ages 0-8) and is now in its second print run: this was unheard of until a few years ago, when "arty" or unconventional picture books were relatively unpopular among parents and in schools. Still, we are still far from having a publishing industry of the sort you see in other small countries, such as Iceland. Here, the government is not investing enough mon- ey to help publishers and writers. Print runs are always very small and profit margins are limited. So, this is wish number one. Also, our country still has no library worthy of the title and it doesn't seem to feature anywhere on the government's agenda. And that makes it wish number 2. One last wish for 2017, I hope that the National Book Council reopens the Book Fund, which did not open in 2016 and I also hope that Malta becomes a member of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young people). We are one of only a handful of non-members. Photo: Giola Cassar 2016: The year in culture We asked some of Malta's most prominent creative practitioners to give us their verdict on 2016 – how this otherwise tumultuous year fared for their respective careers and fields, and what their hopes for the near future are Raphael Vella Curator "We need more small-scale, grassroots initiatives" There have been some positive developments in the visual arts during the year. One of them is Arts Council Malta's decision to obtain a national pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2017. Needless to say, I'm happy to be responsible for the cura- tion of this pavilion, along with co-curator Bet- tina Hutschek. Speaking of Bettina, I think that her Fragmenta pop-up events in various unconventional sites around Malta are a breath of fresh air in the local art scene. While public funds and initiatives in the arts are expanding and always welcome, we need more small- scale, grassroots initiatives that are fuelled by a willingness to make change happen and an understanding of local gaps in the arts. At a national level, the National Museum of Fine Arts finally closed down to the public this year too and we now await the much-publicised MUZA that will replace it. Having said that, it is doubtful that the new museum will open in the first half of 2018, and this will mean that the European Capital of Culture will take off without a single public art museum in the whole country. But we definitely will not miss out on Carnival. Madeleine Gera Painter "Over-development in Valletta is a concern" Over the years, the visual arts scene has developed considerably with many emerging artists and galler- ies opening up all over Malta and Gozo. This year was particularly eventful for me with several private commissions coming in as well as participating in the Venice Architecture Biennale 'Reporting From The Front' with the Architecture firm AP. The inauguration of MUZA is going to be a significant event for the visual arts, along with other contemporary arts galleries opening up in Valletta. Valletta will soon be in the forefront as the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018, and needless to say, 'The City' is undergoing rapid change, which is great. My only con- cern – and I know I'm not alone here – is that development in Valletta has to done in a sensitive and aesthetic way that is suited to it. Mario Vella Vocalist, Brikkuni "Most artistic output is forgotten within a week of its unveiling" Musicians still have a serious problem as far as venues are concerned and it looks to me like things went from bad to worse in this regard. There are literally no proper venues for bands right now. By proper I mean properly designed spaces (small to medium sized black box theatres) at affordable prices. I am aware the Arts Council has been compil- ing a comprehensive list of theatres around the island but I am still not sure what it intends to do with it. The Maltese cultural scene has progressed. One would have to be insufferably cynical not to admit this. But on the other hand, it is no great shakes either. Few, if any projects seem to have legs. Most artistic output is forgotten within a week of its unveiling. We still lack passion, quality and imagination and no amount of funding will make up for this. We are also failing in bridging the gap between arts and politics. Romantic as it may sound I firmly believe that art should also serve to challenge the establishment (there's a buzzword for you) and it seems to me that our dear artists are too careful not to step on toes or bite hands that feed them. Photo: Tonio Lombardi Nanette Brimmer Theatre director, actress "Teatru Malta is a good step forward" I am excited to see so much passion, commitment and raw talent in my genre, among the younger generation. Teatru Manoel Youth Theatre's innovative creations never cease to amaze me – they do us proud both locally and overseas; the growing popularity enjoyed by young children in the extremely well-organised and varied ŻiguŻajg Theatre Festial fills me with hope for the future. The setting up of the new project, Teatru Malta, and appointing Sean Buhagiar as its first Artistic Director, is another step toward keeping the local theatre scene alive and well. His vision is to work with young talent and he advocates the necessity to be "alert, audacious and ground-breaking." I also look forward to seeing this project operate within diverse spaces and venues, and that it will observe its promise to produce for everyone.