Theatre director hits out at ’amateurish’ governance of arts

Malta’s artistic and creative sector cannot flourish so long as its governance remains “amateurish”, theatre director Chris Gatt warned.

In a hard-hitting speech at a cultural forum in Parliament to discuss the future of Malta’s creativity sector, the former St. James Cavalier general manager criticised successive administrations for appointing non-professionals to decision-making roles.

“The chairmen and boards of directors of public culture organisations aren’t chosen for their talents, but because they are favoured by the minister of the day,” Gatt said. “The consequence is that institutions end up being led by boards of directors who haven’t received any training on how these institutions should work, and who often develop policies without even consulting with artists beforehand.”

He warned that local artists must also appropriate a portion of the blame.

“For many artists, their work is a mere hobby. They only care about their own short-term projects, and are happy so long as they get to display their works on a stage – our own small empires built on foundations of sand.

“So long as we maintain this attitude, then Malta’s creativity sector will never progress.”

€1 million invested in 114 creativity projects this year

In his speech, culture minister Owen Bonnici pledged to tackle the widespread perception that creativity is simply a hobby.

“Although the sector contributes around 6% of Malta’s GDP and employs around 10,000 people on a full-time or part-time basis, it is still too common to hear people speak of creative professionals as people who waste their money on a mere pastime,” Bonnici said. “Creative professionals should be considered as economic operators who generate investment and work.”

Indeed, he said that €1 million has already been invested in 114 projects that were funded through programmes under the Malta Arts Council.

Bonnici also announced the approval by Cabinet of a new fund that will invest in Maltese artists and that will be financed by money earned by MEPA through high-rise permit fees.

The cultural forum was addressed by several speakers, all of whom were granted three minutes to speak about the future of the creativity sector.

Neil Falzon from the human rights organisations platform PHROM called for the destruction of the “invisible walls” that prevent excluded groups from becoming creative professionals.

“Some excluded groups -  such as the elderly, the disabled and people at risk of poverty – are hardly given a platform on which to voice their opinions, let alone their creativity,” he said. “Cultural expression should not be the privilege of the few.”

Oliver Scicluna, chairman of the National Commission for People with a Disability, called for information on cultural and artistic opportunities to be made far more accessible to disabled people. 

Ahmed Bugre, director of the Foundation for Shelter and Support for Migrants, said that migrants should be granted more opportunities in which to display their culture.

“Culture is the prism through which people identify themselves and relate to everyone in their community,” he said. “Malta is a multicultural society and it always has been. Moreover, the promotion of cultural diversity is enshrined in the Constitution.”

Charles Hili from the Gozo Culture and Information Office called on the government to boost its investment in cultural activities in the peripheries of villages, such as in small Gozitan theatres.

Amber Wismayer from the Chamber of Architects called for the introduction of clear guidelines that will help architects keep sustainability in mind when designing the restructuring of buildings.