Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/768342
maltatoday, SATURDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2016 31 This Week Malta – from 2017 and beyond Ryan Falzon Painter I would love the art scene to be sharp. Sharp and relevant. I would like the art scene to be just like my music; loud, fast and aggressive. I would love to see certain platforms, especially national ones, being more selective about works being shown in such spaces. I am all for art that is socially and politically committed, and feel that there is not enough of this type of engagement from local artists. Martyrium (Vanja Obscure, Pandemonia, Count Mortem, Sherath, Sandmist, Úmarth) Black metal band A few problems which we can currently identify is the gross lack of available venues for performances, chilling out as well as proper rehearsal space were bands can comfortably meet on a daily basis (and by 'comfortably', we mean having easy access to a restroom). Another problem may be the lack of communication between organisers who sometimes end up organising events in the same genre that end up clashing with each other – making an already dense scene feel even more cluttered. Tomoko Goto Photographer There seems to be more art events happening in Malta these days, but I feel like there's a dis- connect between the creators of this art and the general public. Both artists and viewers need to interact and engage actively with each other if the Maltese art scene is to grow. People here readily "like" what you do, but they don't open their wallets to support it. Malta is lacking a sense of patronage for the arts, and so art here cannot become a full time way of life. This situation can change, but only if schools and cultural stakeholders create more program- ming that seeks to expose people to art and helps them engage with it. Businesses and private companies should also spend more on art, so that it becomes a part of our everyday lives. Gorg Mallia Author, cartoonist, lecturer Although we're losing publishers thick and fast because of market limitations, and, I have to admit, sadly, that in spite of all efforts made over the last decades, reading remains something of a rare commodity in Malta, we do have publishers that courageously strive on, even pub- lishing books that they know will be sleepers, or very bad sellers. Logically, the one area that is quite good for books is that of children's literature, though even there, there is no room for complacency or a drop in quality. I think Maltese publishing needs more of an official support structure that can help it tide over rough patches (i.e. all the time!) In much the same way that some areas of arts and crafts are "protected" so they don't flounder, some sort of grants system that goes well beyond what we have in place needs to be implemented, intelligently targeting those areas that lose money on the market. Authors in those areas mainly self-publish, and while I'm not against this in principle, it loses that much needed gate-keeping that often helps assure a high quality. A number of our publishers adhere to a strict, very useful work ethic and are highly profes- sional. A few don't and aren't. I think understanding the nature of the skill set needed and the number of professionals necessary to make for successful, high quality publishing is indispen- sable, and even more so when it market is miniscule. Good publishers publish good books. Bad publishers publish mediocre books that flood the market and harm the industry for those who really deserve to be there. Photo by Felix Attard "Certain national platforms need to be more selective with the art they show" "There is a gross lack of performance spaces for musicians" "People in Malta don't open their wallets to support art" "Maltese publishing needs more of a support structure"