Our aim for 2009- A creative and innovative culture
As promised in 2009, the Gozo Culture Office embarked on a challenging but important task for the cultural scene on the island... that of formulating a Regional Cultural Policy. Following 50 days of Public Consultation meetings, the policy formulation has now moved on to the drafting stage. The current year will see the launch of this draft which will have a particular emphasis on innovation and tradition. The draft will then be thoroughly discussed and explained to the public at large all across the island leading to the final version of the policy to be executed on a short, medium and long term. Through this policy, the Gozo Culture Office within the Ministry for Gozo will be assuming the role of a policy coordinator rather than that of a cultural organiser, with the cultural events programme being organised by a specific unit based in the same office.
A cultural trademark for Gozo
The Island Region of Gozo boasts of one of the oldest cultural trademarks in the world. Culture on Gozo was practiced far back as five thousand years before Christ around the Ggantija Temples and community dwellings in Xaghra. Gozo never abandoned its cultural vocation, and during seven thousand years of history the Gozitans made sure they added the 3rd qualification to the name of their island. Gozo... the island of honey, joy... and culture! During the past twenty years, Gozo realised that with a difference from Malta, its potential tourism is based on a policy of niche and not mass tourism. Diving, health, ecology, conferences, faith are all particular tourist attracting niches for Gozo but culture certainly crowns them all. Our aim is now to put our cultural content on a higher level aiming more at quality rather than quantity!!
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Practicing an "Art for all" policy
Although quite difficult to believe when considering its dimensions, Gozo has a jam packed Cultural Calendar. We are very often faced with a number of activities happening on the same day and time, with the consequence that one activity steals the audiences from another. Despite this, one cannot deny the fact that culture and arts in Gozo is not yet experienced by all sectors. Particular aspects like popular culture often see the participation of the widest possible spectrum of ages, sex and social backgrounds. Others like visual and performing arts, especially if of a contemporary nature, are still much less patronized. In this regard we intend working hard, starting at school level to promote an 'art for all' policy. This also implies bringing 'culture and arts' to our village cores as well as making it accessible to persons with particular needs.
A dynamic and interactive culture force
Launching this new policy is an important milestone for Gozo t unless it is translated into a living experience it will remain an event in itself. To prevent this happening, we are striving to form a dynamic and interactive culture force for Gozo. We want to bring as many stakeholders on board as possible. Had we limit this driving force to the Culture Section or the Council for Culture and Arts it would be extremely limited. Our aim is to constitute the Gozo Cultural Forum bringing together artists of all sorts, cultural groups and organisations, associations, locals and foreign residents with an interest for culture and arts as well as the major economic stakeholders of the island. Together we can build from today on the foundations laid yesterday, the culture of tomorrow!
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The Gozo Culture Section
Formerly known as the Culture Department, this section within the Ministry for Gozo was set up together with the Ministry itself in 1987, initially coordinating culture and sports on the island. Until 1996, the Culture Department in Gozo formed part of that in Malta. As from that year, the Gozo Culture Section was born, falling directly under the administration and portfolio of the Ministry for Gozo.
The Gozo Council for Culture and Arts
The first Gozo Cultural Council was set up by the Minister for Gozo, Hon. Anton Tabone in 1988. Since then the council assumed various roles and responsibilities until the current council appointed by Minister for Gozo, Hon. Giovanna Debono on the 17th September 2008 is now assuming the role to co-ordinate, launch and promote a new cultural policy for Gozo for the programming period 2009 - 2015.
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The Gozo National and Regional Celebrations Committee
The first Gozo National Celebrations Committee was set up in 1996 when the remit for such celebrations was removed from that of the Gozo Cultural Council which till then was also responsible for organising such commemorations. Since then this committee functioned under various formats until that appointed on the 17th September 2008 which was given the responsibilities of national festivities commemorations and regional celebrations including Carnival, Christmas and Gozo Day.
The Cittadella Centre for Culture and Arts
Formerly known as the Crafts Centre and the Sentinella Base at the Gozo Citadel, over the past two years, this magnificent medieval building, comprising of two large and one medium sized halls, has been transformed by the Culture Office within the Ministry for Gozo, into a Cultural Centre. The Centre now includes two multi-purpose exhibition / concert halls, a theatre and administrative offices. In the near future a lecture hall and cafeteria will also be included. In a relatively short time, the Cittadella Centre management has managed to put together a hectic calendar which includes regular contemporary and modern art exhibitions, concerts, lectures and contemporary theatre performances.
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