Gozitan operatic productions have been granted funding of €330,000 by the Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government, with an additional €60,000 contributed by the Ministry for Gozo.
Teatru Astra and Teatru Aurora have both benefitted from the Investment in Cultural Organisations – Gozo Programme, managed by Arts Council Malta, whereby a total investment of €390,000 from 2022 to 2024 towards their opera programmes has been announced by Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici and Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri.
Minister Bonnici commended this outcome. “We strive to ensure that all art forms are recognised and upheld, including opera. Opera has a very strong platform in Gozo, and thanks to the ICO-Gozo we can continue investing in artistic excellence in this form of theatre, which is so well loved and appreciated on the island”, said Minister Bonnici. Minister Bonnici also made reference to the National Cultural Policy, which puts at the forefront a culturally distinct Gozo as one of its priorities. “Hence, such a laudable initiative like this one, falls perfectly in line with our efforts”, he said. Each theatre will benefit from €55,000 from the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government and €10,000 from the Minsitry for Gozo, for three consecutive years.
Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri said the island of Gozo has two opera theatres which manage to hold one fully staged opera at least once a year, and this often with the participation of international soloists. In fact, this opera season has now become a regular appointment for opera enthusiasts. Camilleri mentioned that opera month, October, is a great opportunity for Gozitans, who possess great artistic talents, to blend and form part of high calibre casts, that visit Gozo for such sought-after events. He stated, “This is an interesting month for Gozo. Through the collaboration with Leone and La Stella societies we have managed to draw up an intensive but ambitious programme of events to bolster Gogo’s attempt to establish itself as a renowned opera destination. As a Ministry we are committed to support Gozo’s vast cultural programme aiming to attract quality tourism all year round.”
The programme covers activities happening in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and a total of seven Gozitan organisations have benefitted from this call. This is the first run of the ICO-Gozo, previously known as the Gozo Cultural Support Programme. Thanks to both initiatives, a total sum of €2,385,000 will have been invested from 2016 to 2024 in Gozitan organisations active in the cultural and creative sectors. More information and results for this call on this programme can be found on www.artscouncil.mt, under the funding and opportunities section.
