The island of Gozo will be the Region of Culture for the next year, this after the term of the Eastern Region as the Region of Culture 2024 ends in a few weeks. Every year a different region in our country is chosen to stage a number of cultural activities in the respective localities in the region during that year.
This was announced by the Minister for Gozo and Planning, Clint Camilleri, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alison Zerafa Civelli, in the presence of the President of the Gozo Region Council, Dr. Samuel Azzopardi.
It was explained that during the next year the unique cultural identity of the Gozitan island will be celebrated through a multidisciplinary program that explores and combines traditional and contemporary practices. The program will cover various cultural and creative disciplines such as dance, music, theatre, visual arts, cinema, literature, cultural heritage, architecture and gastronomy.
Minister Clint Camilleri stated, “We have been working for a long time to establish Gozo as a year-round destination and create quality tourism. With the cultural activities that the Ministry organizes, it has managed to attract visitors to the island even in the shoulder months, so much so that at the weekend Gozo has become full of life and cultural activities in every season.” He said that therefore Gozo as the Culture Region 2025 will certainly continue to strengthen everything that has been built and which is based on the rich cultural heritage and the unique creative potential of the Gozitan island.
Minister Camilleri concluded by saying that this is an opportunity so that 2025 remains engraved in the cultural history of Gozo while he thanked all those who are working to make this initiative a success.
Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli, said that the calendar of activities will be widespread and diversified, where it will include the participation of every locality and is therefore expected to attract tourists, Maltese and foreigners throughout all the months of the year. She explained that every locality, no matter how small it is, will have participation in this program which will continue to enrich the activities that are already being carried out by the local councils and even other organizations in the island of Gozo.
“The island of Gozo is a unique and rich one in relation to the cultural field. The programme that the Gozo Region has prepared is also a vast one, where apart from religious activities, which Gozo is well known for, it will be going further and organizing other activities linked to Gozo itself, the folklore and even gastronomy, in particular the traditional Gozitan food,” said the Parliamentary Secretary Zerafa Civelli, while also appealing to both the Gozitans and even the Maltese, who visit this the island, participate in these activities.
President of the Gozo Region Dr. Samuel Azzopardi said that the Culture Region 2025 is an opportunity to celebrate the island’s talent while providing a platform and space for new artists to shine. He concluded by saying that this will bode well for the future of creativity in Gozo, as the capital of Victoria is currently submitting its bid for the European Capital of Culture 2031.
Photos: MGP-MHAL_PS
