The Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government has definitively concluded the process of purchasing the seat of the Santa Marija Mosta Philharmonic Society, the ninth seat of a musical society that the government bought definitively.
This property joins eight buildings occupied by other musical societies,the Marija Regina Marsa AD1977 Musical Society, the Stella Levantina Musical Association of Attard, the Circolo San Giuseppe Filarmonika Sagra Familia tal-Kalkara, the Club Santa Liena Banda Duke of Connaught’s Own of Birkirkara, the Antoine de Paule Musical Society of Paola, the Stella Maris Musical Society of Tas-Sliema, the San Pietru Music Association in Birżebbuġa and the Anici Socio-Musical Association of Qormi that the government now owns.
At the same time there are three properties from where other musical societies work that the ministry, through the Maltese Council for the Arts, is in agreement about with their private owners. All these twelve societies were at a very serious risk of eviction due to the legal situation linked to the pre-1995 rent laws.
The Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici said that clubs play a crucial role in fostering cultural development and social progress in our communities. He said that it is often these people who are activists within the musical societies who spur the initiatives that promote art, education, environmental conservation, and social welfare in the various communities.
“These organizations depend a lot on the spaces they occupy to carry out their work effectively in the heart of the communities and therefore an eviction would not only hinder their operation but also endanger the crucial element in the organization and the main work of the respective festival”, continued Minister Bonnici.
“Therefore, it was crucial that we take proactive measures to protect clubs like the seat of the one we acquired today. Our job is not only to safeguard the capacity and talent of these people, but we must continue to support the fundamental values of diversity and cultural expression for a future with more culture in it”, concluded Minister Bonnici .
The Santa Marija Mosta Philharmonic Society was acquired with a total investment of €360,000. In total the government is expected to invest a total of €19 million considering the amount that has already been invested in the acquisition of the nine mentioned properties and the amount to be issued considering three other properties for which a final contract has yet to be made.
