Gharb village hosts art within the community event

The locality of Gharb recently hosted a number of learners and educators from the Mikiel Anton Vassalli College Malta School of Art, who were there to draw and paint various scenes from the village core.

The event was organised in collaboration with one of the Village’s organisations, namely the local band club the Ghaqda Muzikali Vizitazzjoni.

College Principal Victor Galea explained that the scope of such events is twofold: to popularise the visual and performing arts within our communities and to give more opportunities to the learners to perform the skills, knowledge and competence learned at school and share such with other community members.

“This goes in line with both the mission of the College as well as the main objectives of the European funded Programme Europe for Citizens EASY TOWNS which the College is part of. We strongly believe that cultural heritage as well as the Visual and Performing Arts is one of the best mediums to contribute towards inclusive societies,” said Victor Galea.

Two promising young artists from Gharb, Lynette and Demi Anne joined the group and together with their parents, they had an interactive art session with the Head of the Malta School of Art Mr Robert Zahra.

Mr Zahra remarked that, “such activities, which now have become yearly events on SOA’s calendar, are meant to connect educators and learners of different ages and abilities.”

He went on to explain that “although landscape painting seems a relaxing activity, actual learning is taking place in the streets while we are reaching out to different communities hoping to generate interest in the visual arts among the general public.”Also participating, were Gozitan artist and educator at the Mikiel Anton Vassalli College Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School, Mr Justin Falzon together with his students.

Towards the end of the event the Minister for Gozo Dr Justyne Caruana paid a visit to the artists at Gharb Village square where participants expressed their feedback on the event and how they are impressed with the tranquillity of this village.

They said how “it is almost unconceivable to be able to sit in a town square in Malta without the disturbance of continuous traffic and noise… here in Gharb we were able to not only paint in peace and quiet but we were able to draw architectural features which are quickly disappearing from the village cores in Malta.”David Apap Agius who hosted the event, concluded by saying that the success of this event encouraged him to start planning a Street Art Festival which will include other artists and students from the Visual and Performing Arts, including Drama and Dance students as well as Music Performers.

The Mikiel Anton Vassalli is a network of the Specialised Schools of art, Drama, Dance and music.

Any localities who would like to collaborate with this college in order to create such community events in their area can contact the College on mavassalli.college@ilern.edu.mt