V18 will give local artists an international platform - Bonnici

Justice and culture minister Owen Bonnici this morning addressed the Valletta 2018 International Conference on cultural relations in Europe and the Mediterranean, saying that the V18 initiative will allow Valletta to open up to the international community.

"Culture has an important role to play in political dialogue," Bonnici said, adding that V18 allowed artists to reflect on how they can link Malta to the international community. Malta, both culturally and geographically, is currently experiencing a crucial period through increased migration.

The ministry of culture is working to enhance opportunities for artists and Malta's broader network. The Malta Arts Fund is contributing to this, Bonnici said, and there are plans for a new cultural bilateral initiative fund.

Karsten Xuereb, executive director of the V18 Foundation, added that now - with the Mediterranean seeing more migration as a result of conflict in the region - was the time to transform what the European capital of culture was all about.