Minister for Education and Employment Owen Bonnici visited the ongoing refurbishment works at the historic Malta School of Art building in Valletta. Work is well underway and the €5 million project is expected to be completed in the next few months.
Minister Bonnici said: “I would like to thank all the workers from the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools for all their hard work that is being carried out on this historic building, the School of Art which is part of the Mikiel Anton Vassalli College. The Government has a lot of exciting plans for the furthering of the education of visual and performing arts in Malta and this project is testament to what we want to keep doing in this sector.”
The small, elegant and elaborate palace housing the School of Art belonged to a French knight from the Order’s times. After his death, this building was passed on to the Order, and this is how it became a property of the State. The school first opened its doors in 1926 in this same location found in Old Bakery street, Valletta.There was a time when the School of Art relocated elsewhere and this building was being used as a Magistrate’s Court. The Malta School of Art eventually returned to its original location.
Victor Galea, Head of Mikiel Anton Vassalli College which the Malta School of Art forms part of, said “the building is being restored to perfection and teachers and staff are going to find a newly refurbished environment conducive for effective teaching and learning. Any investment in arts education is an investment for a better society to live in.”
Permanent Secretary, Frank Fabri said: “The Ministry is currently undergoing infrastructure work in all levels of the educational system. There are currently ongoing works in the Primary Schools of Qawra, Imsida and Rabat (Gozo), Secondary Schools in Żejtun, a new hall in St Lucia and a new bridge in Ħamrun. Work is also being done at MCAST and the University of Malta, and today we came to visit the maintenance work being done in the School of Art. This school forms part of the College for Visual and Performing arts, for which the Ministry has great plans.”
Bonnici explained how the Foundation for Tomorrow’s School is taking care of this project which includes restoration and maintenance works on this building. The project includes changing of electricity and water, opening of new rooms, installation of lifts, and new modern and comfortable spaces that respect the historical heritage.
The Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, Malta School of Art aims at providing high quality education based on new methodology and research, providing a challenging setting for students to learn and discover their full potential. The school offers various art courses leading to qualifications from Level 1, basic, to Level 5, which is equivalent to a diploma. Currently 500 learners from age 6 onwards are registered at the MAVC Malta School of Art.
Since its establishment, it exerted a major influence in the progress and artistic research of visual arts in Malta. It also acted as one of the prime sources of artistic education, offering formal training and scholarships to artists to further their education abroad.
This project is being done with an investment of €5 million and is expected to be completed in the next few months.
The Mikiel Anton Vassalli College is the national network of specialised schools for Visual and Performing Arts Education in Malta and Gozo.
Malta Office of the College Principal
32, Joseph Abela Scholaro Street,
Hamrun HMR 1304, Malta
Gozo Office of the College Principal,
Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, Industrial Zone,
Jean De La Valette Street,
Xewkija, XWK 3000, Gozo
+356 2598 3710
mavassalli.college@ilearn.edu.mt
