Albert Marshall to step in CEO’s shoes

Arts council chairman Albert Marshall is expected to be appointed executive chair of the council after the parliamentary secretariat for culture and local councils refused to extend a three-year contract to CEO Davinia Galea.

Marshall will be occupying the position in the interim period while the Arts Council's functions will be split between its regulatory and policy function, and that of organising cultural events.

Galea, a 48-year-old pianist, was appointed CEO of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts in 2007 and then again in 2010 on a 'person of trust' basis. Galea however denied this, saying that she was reappointed because her contract was extended.

But her departure from the MCCA was met with criticism by Vicky Cremona, chairwoman of the University of Malta's School of Performing Arts, who described Galea as a professional who "instituted an arms' length transparent policy in Malta."

Under her wing, the Malta Arts Fund, launched in 2009, became a hallmark of cultural policy with is initial €50,000 budget increasing to €430,000 in 2012.

A ministry source told MaltaToday that Galea was appointed to the post in 2007 on a salary of €32,000, with a 5% annual salary increase. By the end of 2013, she was being paid €38,000 as well as a performance bonus of 20% annually, bringing her total salary to €45,000.

Her three-year contract comes to an end this week, but contrary to her claims, the culture secretariat says the contract was a definite one. "The contract lacked an 'objective clause' that renders the contract subject to renewal, turning it into an 'indefinite contract'," the source said.

Galea also turned down a post to organise an international event, for which the parliamentary secretariat offered a €35,000 salary. "Her designation as MCCA chief was tagged at government 'Scale 3' salary, which carries a €32,000 salary. So we offered her a €35,000 salary for this new role."

MaltaToday was unable to confirm how much Albert Marshall will be paid to act as executive chairman of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. As chairman he is paid €12,000, but the parliamentary secretariat can be expected to top his salary up for the executive post.

Marshall is also deputy chairman of the Public Broadcasting Service's board of directors.

Marshall's career in the theatre started during the 1960s and in 1979 he was appointed the first Maltese principal of the National Academy of Dramatic Art (MTADA). Between December 1996 and June 1999, he occupied the post of CEO at PBS under the Sant administration, and then proceeded to One TV as chief executive. He left One TV in 2005.