The award acknowledges excellence in artistic work premiered during the preceding year and are unique in their focus on culture and the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese awards celebrate the best artistic work in the country at a time when culture has never been so vibrant,\u201d said Culture Minister Owen Bonnici at the Nominees Night, which was held at the Phoenicia Grand Ballroom yesterday evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nominees \u2013 spread over eight categories \u2013 were selected by a jury of sectoral experts and Arts Council Malta representatives from the nominations submitted through an open call. The winners of these categories as well as three other awards – the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ambassador of the Arts and the People\u2019s Choice Award – will be announced at the Awards night, which will be held on 23 March at Teatru Manoel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The categories \u2013 which include Best Project in the Community, Best International Achievement, Young Artist of the Year and Best Creative Enterprise – were selected according to Arts Council Malta\u2019s strategic priorities as outlined in the Council\u2019s Strategy2020<\/a>, its five-year plan for the cultural and creative sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Awards covers projects, productions or activities in the cultural and creative sectors which have been premiered or presented between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winners will receive a prestigious award, a sculpture in glass and ceramic, by Maltese artist Kane Cali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Awards are set to become a yearly appointment for artists and all those involved in the cultural and creative sectors. \u201cWe are working so that these Awards provide a reference point for excellence across the sector,\u201d said Arts Council Malta acting chairman Annabelle Stivala. \u201cThis is another way in which we encourage and recognise excellence in the cultural and creative sectors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n