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About the Event
This event is a vehicle for the celebration of Gozo’s identity in a two-pronged, interlinked manner: through the organisation of a contemporary art collective under the theme of Alternative Perspectives, and an art-historical conference entitled The Artistic Legacy of Gozo, thus linking Gozo’s artistic legacy with present artistic production. The event is under the artistic direction of Dr Mark Sagona, visual artist and resident academic in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta. Both events will take place during the month of May 2022 at the newly-refurbished complex of the Teatru Astra in Victoria, Gozo.
Alternative Perspectives proposes itself as a platform for contemporary artistic dialogue which sees visual artists and creative practitioners engaging with the theme of Gozo today, especially mindful of the issues and phenomena effecting Gozo’s contemporary identity, in a fresh, unorthodox and innovative manner.
Additionally, the art-historical conference, convened by Dr Sagona, brings together academic members and past students of the Department of Art and Art History, Faculty of Arts at the University of Malta, to discuss aspects of the multi-faceted artistic heritage of Gozo with reference to art, architecture, and contemporary practice.
Both event components will celebrate Gozo’s identity through art between the past and the present. The event will be accompanied by a publication edited by Dr Sagona, which will include the proceedings of the conference and a catalogue of the exhibited works.
DEDICATED TO ARTIST FRANK PORTELLI (1922-2004)
PIONEER OF MODERN ART IN MALTA - DESIGNER OF TEATRU ASTRA (1967)
ON THE FIRST CENTENARY OF HIS BIRTH (1922-2022)
This project is part-financed through funding under Measure 3 of the GAGF LEADER Programme - “Gozitan Attractions and Innovative Events for all Season” – Develop Gozo’s all-season tourism product offering and is being undertaken by Soċjeta' Filarmonika La Stella. This measure falls under the LEADER Programme (Community Led Local Development) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020, which is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and falls under the responsibility of Funds and Programme Division within the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA). The Gozo Action Group Foundation is the Local Action overseeing this project.
This project is also supported by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector through the NGO Financing Fund and the Ministry for Inclusion, Voluntary Sector and Consumer Rights.