This week, the Valletta Cultural Agency held a wide-ranging and diverse exhibition at Dar Malta in Brussels, entitled Valletta 2018: A Legacy. The event was organised to showcase and share with Maltese professionals working in Brussels—including those at Dar Malta and the European Parliament—as well as international stakeholders in the cultural sector, the extensive work carried out during Valletta 2018 and beyond by the Valletta Cultural Agency. The exhibition also welcomed representatives from the European Commission for Culture, as well as Maltese MEPs. It served as an important opportunity to present the achievements of the Valletta 2018 Foundation and the continued efforts of the Valletta Cultural Agency in driving the economic, social, and cultural regeneration of Valletta.
The Chairman of the Valletta Cultural Agency, Mr Jason Micallef, stated that this exhibition, hosted at Dar Malta, is a testament to the Agency’s commitment to maintaining and building upon the successes achieved when Valletta was designated European Capital of Culture. He emphasised that the intention is not only to celebrate these successes but to reflect on them and continue to develop them further. Mr Micallef reiterated that the most valuable legacy of Valletta 2018 was the establishment of the Valletta Cultural Agency itself, which today serves as a driving force behind the city’s largest public cultural events and artistic activities throughout the year.
“In recent days, we have had the opportunity to engage with our colleagues at the European Commission for Culture—not only to discuss Valletta and our ongoing work as an Agency, but also to reaffirm our commitment to supporting and following the developments that will lead to Malta once again having a city nominated as European Capital of Culture in 2031. The Valletta Cultural Agency has already been working towards this goal for the past years, and in the coming months, this work will accelerate,” Mr Micallef concluded.
Among the keynote speakers at the exhibition were His Excellency Mr Neil Kerr, Permanent Representative of Malta to the European Union, His Excellency Dr Vanni Xuereb, Ambassador of Malta to the Kingdom of Belgium, Ms Nela Riehl, Chair, Committee on Culture and Education, European Parliament and Ms Marie Imbert, the Coordinator of the European Capitals of Culture, European Commission.
