The Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government has definitively concluded the process of purchasing the Sant’Andrija Society of Ħal Lija, thus increasing to ten the amount of headquarters of musical societies that the Government definitively concluded the purchase process.
This property joins nine other buildings occupied by various musical societies, i.e. the headquarters of the Marija Regina Marsa A.D.1977 Musical Society, the headquarters of the Stella Levantina Musical Association of H’Attard, the headquarters of -Circolo San Giuseppe Sacred Filarmonic Family of Kalkara, the headquarters of the Society Santa Liena Club Duke of Connaught’s Own Band of Birkirkara, the headquarters of the Antoine de Paule Musical Society of Paola, the headquarters of the Society Musical Stella Maris of Tas-Sliema, the headquarters of the San Pietru Musical Association in Chains of Birżebbuġa, the headquarters of the Anici Socio-Musical Association of Qormi and the Santa Marija Mosta Philharmonic Society which now -Government is the owner of the main building from which these societies work.
At the same time there are two other properties from where other musical societies work that the Ministry, through the Maltese Arts Council, is in an agreement 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 musical societies in our towns and cities play a crucial role in fostering cultural development and social progress among families. 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 seriously endanger their operation but also threaten their existence. The musical societies are a crucial element in the organization and the main work of the respective festival”, continued Minister Bonnici. “Therefore, it was essential that we take proactive measures to protect clubs such as 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 Sant`Andrija Society of Lija was acquired with a total investment of €3,600,000. 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 ten properties mentioned and the amount to be released considering the two properties the other for which a final contract has yet to be made.
