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- Fort St Elmo, Valletta
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- Fort St Elmo Courtyard
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- www.maltabiennale.art
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- Grand Master’s Palace
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- Ġgantija Archaeological Park
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- The Inquisitor’s Palace
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- www.VisitMalta.com
Malta
The Maltese Islands Will Host the maltabiennale.art 2024
For the First Time Under the Patronage of UNESCO March 11 – May 31, 2024
Malta, an archipelago located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, has been acclaimed for its luxurious accommodations, warm climate, and 8,000 years of history. However, the Maltese Islands also boast a rich and deeply rooted connection with arts and culture since the beginning of its existence. Its strategic location at the crossroads of civilizations has fostered a unique blend of cultural influences, from Phoenician and Sicilian to Arab, European and the Knights of St. John. Malta’s diverse heritage is vividly reflected in its architecture, cuisine and traditions.
Malta is home to 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are the Capital City of Valletta, Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and the Megalithic Temples including Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Ġgantija, which stand as testament to its artistic prowess, dating back over 5,000 years. The Knights of St. John left an indelible mark on Maltese culture with the stunning St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta exemplifying their artistic legacy.
In 2024, Malta as a hub for the arts will take center stage with the announcement that UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) has granted its patronage for the first time to maltabiennale.art, which will be held from March 11 – May 31, 2024. UNESCO’s patronage is considered a high form of recognition for this art festival, which while still in its infancy, has already garnered a strong and encouraging global response from artists, and is clearly set to become the focal cultural event of 2024 in Malta.
Through contemporary art, maltabiennale.art will be investigating the Mediterranean, reflected in the theme for the biennale’s first edition: Baħar Abjad Imsaġar taż-Żebbuġ (White Sea Olive Groves). The biennale will unfold across Malta and Gozo, mainly within Heritage Malta’s historic sites, many of which have been declared by UNESCO as being World Heritage Sites, including Valletta, the capital, and Gozo’s Ġgantija.
In her letter, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay expressed how UNESCO’s aims are perfectly reflected in maltabiennale.art’s dialogue between Mediterranean art and cultures, and how this led the organization to grant its patronage to the maltabiennale.art 2024.
Her Excellency also congratulated maltabiennale.art’s president, Mario Cutajar, as well as Heritage Malta for this initiative, and wished them the greatest success. The letter was delivered by Malta’s ambassador to UNESCO, Mgr. Joseph Vella Gauci.
maltabiennale.art 2024 will be opening its doors on the 11th March 2024, and will welcome visitors until the end of May 2024. With just one week remaining for artists to submit their proposals for participation in Malta’s largest cultural event in 2024, over 500 applications hailing from 80 states have already been received.
maltabiennale.art will be officially inaugurated by the President of Malta, his Excellency Dr. George Vella.
maltabiennale.art is a Heritage Malta initiative through MUŻA, the Malta National Community Art Museum, in partnership with Arts Council Malta. The biennale is also presented in cooperation with the Ministries for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, and Gozo, as well as with Visit Malta, Spazju Kreattiv, Malta Libraries, and the Valletta Cultural Agency.
Michelle Buttigieg, Malta Tourism Authority’s Representative North America, noted that “the attraction of Malta for many visitors from the US & Canada, is still very much its 8,000 years of history and its robust arts & culture scene. It is wonderful that Heritage Malta will be using its many historic sites to provide a showcase for these works of art, creating a unique and exciting platform to integrate history with culture.”
