A six-week series of ACMlabs will start on Wednesday 1 April 2020. The topics being presented are in conjunction with the impact of COVID-19 on the cultural and creative sectors. These sessions will seek to cover topics that enable creative practitioners to deal with challenges brought on by #COVID-19, as well as to present opportunities to evaluate and discuss how the sectors operate on a long-term basis.
COVID-19 Special Series ACMlab
Session #6 of 6: Exploring Collectivity Part 2
Date: Wednesday 6th May 2020
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
In this final session, we shall explore possibilities of unity and representation for the Cultural and Creative Sectors in Malta. In the first part of these two sessions, we outlined what has been done so far in this regard and discussed what works/worked and what did/ did not. With this in mind, this last session will seek to explore practical possibilities for the future. We will look at possible models of governance and funding, as well as the role of any such bodies of representation - including lobbying, exchanging information, supporting and assisting, and sharing of resources and knowledge.
The panel for this session will be made up of Dr Charlotte Camilleri, Jimmy Grima, Elyse Tonna, Simon Sansone and Anita Debaere.
Dorian Mallia will be carrying out movement interventions during the session with the aim of getting us to move collectively during the two-hour conversation.
Speakers:
Charlotte Camilleri
In December 2005 Dr Camilleri graduated in Doctor of Laws at the University of Malta and was called to the bar in 2006. Dr Charlotte Camilleri joined the Malta Employers’ Association (MEA) in February 2006. She furthered her studies and in December 2010 she obtained a Magister Juris in European Law from the University of Malta. Her responsibilities at the MEA comprise providing legal advice to members on industrial relations issues and labour legislation. Furthermore she assists members in issues with both the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations and with Trade Unions. She also assists members when taking disciplinary measures and represents before the Industrial Tribunal.
Dr Camilleri was a Director of the Employment and Training Corporations and a Member of the Board of Visitors of the Prisons. Since 2015 she is Chairperson of the Maternity Leave Trust Fund. In March 2020 she was appointed Member of the Malta Psychology Profession Board. She lectures Labour Laws, is examiner of Industrial Relations at the University of Malta and at the Centre for Labour Studies. She has been rapporteur/national expert for the European Foundation of Living and Working Conditions since 2012.
Jimmy Grima
Jonathan aka Jimmy Grima is an artist, designer and curator working in the fields of graphic arts, performance and film. In 2009 he co-founded The Rubberbodies Collective of which he was the artistic director from 2009-2019 and Tiny Island Studio of which he is the creative director.
Jimmy has been busy bringing artists and people (communities) from different backgrounds to collaborate together. He has produced and directed theatre, dance, events, projects, film and installations. He is interested in the curation of objects and knowledge.
He is currently living and working between Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the central Mediterranean island of Malta.
Photo by Lindsey Bahia.
Elyse Tonna
Elyse Tonna is an architect and an aspiring curator currently carrying out an MA in Cultural Heritage Management. Her curatorial practice is primarily related to contemporary art practice, community-based art and socially-engaged projects. She is the Arts Coordinator of ACT, focusing mostly on arts in public spaces. She has recently been appointed Curator and Co-Creative Director of the Gabriel Caruana Foundation and co-host of Glug Malta. Tonna is a Fellow of the Salzburg Global Forum after being selected to participate as a Maltese representative in the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators in 2017.
Elyse has also curated a number of exhibitions locally and abroad and recently led production teams for major local exhibitions, artistic installations and theatrical set designs. Between 2014-2019 she was also a Committee Member of the Malta Society of Arts and its Arts Advisory Board.
Photo by Tarunima Sen Chandra and ARTZ ID.
Simon Sansone
One of Malta’s most experienced and prominent film professionals, Simon Sansone is a Line Producer and co-owner of Small Island Films Ltd. Simon is also Chairperson of the Malta Producers’ Association. With over 20 years of production experience to date, Simon has worked on over 65 international productions ranging from micro-budget documentaries to high-end multi-million Hollywood and top European feature films and TV series.
His filmography includes several award winning projects, including most recently ‘Styx’ which opened the Panorama section of the Berlinale film festival 2018; Hollywood’s ‘Risen’ directed by Kevin Reynolds and starring Joseph Fiennes and ‘Paul - Apostle of Christ’, produced for Sony Pictures and starring Jim Caviezel. Simon is a hands-on producer with a solid track record in bringing challenging productions into being, on budget and on schedule.
Anita Debaere
Anita Debaere is Director of Pearle*-Live Performance Europe. This European sector federation counts, through its member associations, more than 10 000 organisations in the live performance sector across Europe. Pearle* is also recognised as European employers association, taking part in European sectoral social dialogue. Anita Debaere holds a master in Political and Social sciences and Communication Science from the University of Ghent. She also holds a post-degree in Arts Management from the City University of London.
Anita Debaere worked in the classical music sector and in the energy sector, before joining Pearle*. Anita Debaere sits in different steering committees of European projects, she is regularly invited for studies and at conferences or stakeholder meetings to give expert views on sectoral questions, in particular in relation to cultural mobility. Anita Debaere also volunteers on the board of a group of 11 primary and secondary schools.
Dorian Mallia
Founder/ Artistic Director of Moveo Dance Company and a dance practitioner/scholar. Graduated from Central School of Ballet (London), where he obtained a degree in professional dance and performance, and pursued a Master degree in Performing Studies (Dance) at the University of Malta. Before proceeding to the CSB, he attended the JCDC, Malta, Urdang Academy, Covent Garden, London and the Hungary State Academy. He has performed at top international venues with companies including European Ballet in the UK, RBR Dance Company in Verona (Italy), LaMov Compania de Danza (Spain), Paganini Dance Company in Rome and Mavinkhoodance (Singapore) to mention a few.
Register here: https://forms.gle/D4ii1wjpNa1uK81G6
Registration will close on Wednesday 6th May at 3:00 p.m. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Session #5 of 6: Exploring Collectivity
Date: Wednesday 29th April 2020
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
As islanders, we seek to create work, establish connections and make our voices heard with the knowledge that we are somewhat isolated from the rest of Europe, the Mediterranean and the rest of the world. Historically, the sectors have experienced attempts at coming together, sharing knowledge, establishing standards, and lobbying for support. A sense of fragmentation remains and is highlighted at a time of crisis when strength is found in unity. In this session we will discuss how the sense of togetherness established through these sessions can be a possible solution for independent practitioners to consider collectively.
The panel for this session will be made up of Jean Marc Cafa (ex APAP), Prof Mark Anthony Falzon (anthropologist), Pierre Portelli (ex START), Glen Calleja (HELA), Alison White (ex Dance Council) and Cristina Da Milano (CAE).
Dorian Mallia will be carrying out movement interventions during the session with the aim of getting us to move collectively during the two-hour conversation.
Speakers:
Jean-Marc Cafa
Jean-Marc Cafa trained at the Guildford School of Acting, UK where he was awarded both the McGrath Citation Award for Talent and the Entrepreneurship Award. He has performed in various plays and musicals locally and overseas. Jean is currently the Creative Director of Studio 18 Malta and the Director of Learning and Community for the Barn Theatre in the UK, while also working as a Freelance Director. He is also reading an MA in Teaching and Learning for Performing Artists in Higher and Further Education at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, specialising in creating learning strategies tailored to cultural landscapes.
Directing credits include The Brat and That, #babydaddy, Limbo, Inez Kienet Perf, System, Dear Pete, DripFeed (co-direction with André Agius), and the Valletta 2018 Project iLand (Studio 18), Il-Hajja Xej Kool Ta' Teenager Jismu Julian (Du Theatre, Teatru Aurora), Loveplay (Pagoni Theatre), Evita (Teatru Astra), Tghid Lil Hadd (Studio 18/Teatru Aurora), Cabaret (FM Youth), Thoroughly Modern Millie for the SOPA Teen Company (Malta) and The Dream Master for the Palestine International Children’s Festival as well as assistant director on Her Naked Skin (GSA, UK), Così Fan Tutte (Jackdaws, UK), Orpheus the Mythical (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Richard Stilgoe), Grease (Teatru Astra) and Shakespeare scene work for the Sam Wanamaker Festival at Shakespeare's Globe. As a dramaturge, he has worked on Naqsam il-Muza, Tar Mar-Rih (Danza C) and on the alternative shopping experience You Are What You Buy, and most recently Teatru Malta's Xilallu. In 2013, Jean-Marc was invited to participate in the Royal Shakespeare Company's director workshop.
Jean-Marc has also choreographed a number of shows including Du Theatre’s Il-Marid Immaginarju, Teatru Manoel' s 2014 Pantomime Pinocchio, When You Hear My Voice for the London Shakespeare Workout, numbers for MYO Swings, and a number of local musicals.
In 2011, he managed the implementation of ZiguZajg, Malta’s first international arts festival for children and youth. Between 2011 and 2013, Jean served as the Artistic Director for SOPA (School of Performing Arts by Drama Troupe) and oversaw the youth programmes run by Spazju Kreattiv. He also served as Vice President and Rep for Education for APAP from 2012 to 2014. He moved on to found Studio 18 in 2013, an organization for performing arts training and creative learning, for which he has served as creative director since. Jean-Marc currently also a consultant for Creative Learning at San Anton School from 2017 to 2019.
Prof Mark-Anthony Falzon
Mark-Anthony Falzon is an anthropologist and a professor at the University of Malta and life member of Clare Hall, Cambridge. He has done fieldwork in Malta, London, Mumbai, and the Pelagie Islands. His interests include trade diasporas, migration, cities, and nature conservation. He is the author of Cosmopolitan Connections (Oxford, 2005) and Birds of Passage (Berghahn, 2019), and the editor of Multi-sited Ethnography (Ashgate, 2009) and The Examined Life (2019); Selling Everything, Anywhere will be published by Penguin in 2021.
Pierre Portelli
Pierre works mainly in conceptual art and site specific installation art. Studied Design at Swindon School of Art and Design in the United Kingdom.
A founding member of 'START', a Maltese contemporary art group and a founding member of ISTRA, a contemporary art and research foundation. Pierre lectures at the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences and the Faculty of Technology and Entrepreneurship at the University of Malta. In 2019, together with Dr Georgina Portelli, he launched REL•INK, an ongoing major research project that looks at tattoo art in Malta from the late 1800s to 1970’s.
His work has been exhibited internationally across the European Union, Liechtenstein, Iceland, the USA and North Africa and can be found in private and national collections.
Glen Calleja
Glen Calleja is a writer, book artist and cultural manager. Glen runs Kotba Calleja, is co-founder of Studio Solipsis and the current president of Fondazzjoni HELA. His literary work and publications include various poetry projects, works of prose fiction as well as non-fiction work. Calleja also enjoys editing manuscripts, daydreaming, cooking and silence.
HELA (The Hub for Excellence in the Literary Arts)
Fondazzjoni HELA (VO/1822) is an autonomous platform working to foster excellence across the literary sector in Malta and Gozo. HELA engages with local and international organisations, individuals and public entities to create dialogue between players in the sector and policy-makers and to advocate for good and fair practices within the literary field.
Allison White
Dame Alison White’s international career is now in its 41st year and has involved many areas of the dance and entertainment business: from dancer, singer, teacher and choreographer, to principal of her own dance school and director of her own dance company as well as working in several national committee positions.
She is the sole representative of British Theatre Dance Association on the island and is also a member of the Russian Ballet Society as well as the Margaret Morris Movement. She was involved with the Dance Council of Malta since it was founded in 1995 and helped it develop and become part of the international arena. In around 2006, Alison White became the President of the Dance Council until it dissolved in 2014. Ms White is the official dance instructor for the Guardian Angel School, where for the past 30 years she has pioneered the integration of dancers with special needs into mainstream dance training and performance. She has also been involved with Opening Doors, a training program for students with disabilities.
In 2014 she was appointed Chairwoman of ZfinMalta (Malta’s National Dance Ensemble). In 2016, she was awarded the MQR for her extensive contributions to the community, and in 2019 she was welcomed into the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitalier.
Cristina Da Milano
She holds a degree in Archaeology (University of Rome, IT); the MA in Museum Studies (University of Leicester, UK); the MA in Technological Systems for the Economic Evauation of Cultural Heritage (University of Ferrara, IT).
She is president of ECCOM (European Centre for Cultural Organisation and Management), an organisation founded in 1995 which carries out research projects at a national and international level on the issue of the social role of culture and of the impact of lifelong learning processes within the cultural sector. She has been involved in several EU funded projects and studies with specific reference to cultural access and participation, audience development and the social role of culture in contemporary society. She is an expert in European cultural policy and programmes.
She lectures in many post-graduate courses and Masters. She is member of the board of directors and vice-president of Culture Action Europe; member of the board of directors of Teatro di Roma; member of the Commission for the National Museum System of the Italian Ministry for Culture.
Dorian Mallia
Founder/ Artistic Director of Moveo Dance Company and a dance practitioner/scholar. Graduated from Central School of Ballet (London), where he obtained a degree in professional dance and performance, and pursued a Master degree in Performing Studies (Dance) at the University of Malta. Before proceeding to the CSB, he attended the JCDC, Malta, Urdang Academy, Covent Garden, London and the Hungary State Academy. He has performed at top international venues with companies including European Ballet in the UK, RBR Dance Company in Verona (Italy), LaMov Compania de Danza (Spain), Paganini Dance Company in Rome and Mavinkhoodance (Singapore) to mention a few.
Register here: https://forms.gle/oma2cV29sx3RkkT69
Registration will close on Wednesday 29th April at 3:00 p.m. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Cristina Da Milano's presentation is available here.
Session #4 of 6: Keeping connections alive
Date: Wednesday 22nd April 2020
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
In most cases, cultural and creative events are driven by one common factor; bringing people together. It is usually about togetherness, connections, encounters and communication with our peers and with others. These connections - most often than not - transcend borders, bringing local and international artists together on the same platforms. In a situation where this becomes impossible, how do we keep going? How do we stay in touch with our audiences? How do we plan ahead? How do we keep the communities engaged and connections alive?
The panel for this session will be made up of Rosetta Debattista (Artistic Consultant - Teatru Salesjan), Annabelle Stivala (Director - Festivals Malta), Natalie Muschamp (Founder and Managing Director - Step Up for Parkinson's), Tina Walsberger (Marketing and Communications Director - Edinburgh International Festival) and Jean Noël Attard (Cultural Manager - Gozo).
Diane Portelli will be carrying out movement interventions during the session with the aim of getting us to move collectively during the two-hour conversation.
Speakers:
Rosetta Debattista
Rosetta Debattista is a trained pianist, music educator and therapist. She was mentored by Maria Callas’s Pianist, Robert Sutherland and studied Pianoforte with Ruth Gerald at the Royal College of Music in London. She furthered her studies in music education and music therapy at the University of Surrey, graduating in 1993. She obtained her Masters' in Music Therapy in 2000.
Rosetta regularly performed in Malta, and has given concerts in Italy, Denmark and Germany. She worked as Music Director and Vocal Coach for several locally-produced musicals, including Side by Side by Sondheim, Company, Honk, Oliver and Chicago. In 2010, Rosetta initiated the project ‘Minigig’, bringing live music to villages on the island. In 2011 she was appointed ‘Arts Education Consultant’ for the National Theatre, where she created Teatru Manoel’s ‘Toi Toi’ programme and ran it until 2018. Apart from teaching at the Johann Strauss School of Music, she has worked with Resource Centres and Foundations providing persons with disability a way to experience and enjoy the world of the Arts. She was Associate Director for an original opera in Kuwait during 2018/19 and has been Artistic Consultant for Teatru Salesjan for the past year.
Annabelle Stivala
Annabelle Stivala is Director and acting CEO of Festivals Malta. Festivals Malta is an agency which produces eight festivals with more than a 150 cultural events every year. Annabelle began her career in the cultural sector in 1994 when she joined the Department of Culture and in 1998 she started her own company specialising in corporate events. During this time, she managed several large scale events for multinational companies and was responsible for several international events in Hong Kong, London and Italy representing the Malta Tourism Authority.
She graduated in International Events Management in 2010 and she joined the Ministry of Culture and Local Government as a consultant in 2013. In 2014 she was appointed Director Festivals within Arts Council Malta and in 2016 started the process to hive off the Festivals Directorate from Arts Council Malta. She launched the Festivals Malta brand together with the first Festival and Event Strategy for Malta in 2018. Annabelle was the Director of the 7th World Summit which was held in Malta in 2016, the Chairperson of the Local Government Conference held in 2017 and was also appointed a member of the National Festivities Foundation, a position she still holds today.
Natalie Muschamp
Natalie originally studied dance in the Netherlands and has completed a Masters by Research in dance studies in Malta. The first connection with Parkinson’s disease was within Natalie her own family. In 2015 Natalie became aware of the Dance for PD program in Brooklyn, New York and felt compelled to help people with Parkinson’s disease through dance movement. Natalie followed a course in the UK given by Dance for Parkinson’s Network UK and people dancing in partnership with English National Ballet, Plymouth Dance and Plymouth University, followed by an advanced training course with Dance for PD in Brooklyn.
In 2016 Natalie started a pilot study in Malta in collaboration with the Malta Parkinson’s Disease Association and realised how these classes could benefit not only the person with Parkinson’s disease but also their caregiver.
Tina Walsberger
Tina is a passionate and results-driven international marketing leader who has worked with many of the world’s most important cultural brands. With an exceptional track record of exceeding sales targets, Tina builds strong brands and motivated teams who balance long-term strategy with highly effective and integrated sales campaigns. During her career she was voted #15 Most Powerful Women in Australian Media.
As part of the senior leadership teams for Edinburgh International Festival and Sydney Festival, Tina has worked with brands such as Sydney Opera House, National Theatre, LA Phil, Virgin Money, Airbnb, BBC, The Guardian, The Times, and Edinburgh University.
Tina is an adventurer, having scaled mountains in the Himalayas, been diving at the Great Barrier Reef and volunteered for a humanitarian project in South India. She graduated from Oxford Brookes University and Regensburg UAS with a German/English bilingual degree in European Business and now enjoys lecturing and speaking on topics of Marketing and Leadership across the globe.
Jean Noël Attard
Always demonstrating an aptitude for cultural management, Jean Noël joined Gaulitana: A Festival of Music as Festival Manager in 2013. The annual month-long festival in Gozo presents a multifarious programme of events including operatic productions, orchestral/chamber concerts and an intensive educational programme. Jean is an alumni of the European Festivals Association after participating in the Festival Production Management Training and was the Festival Coordinator of the Prague Summer Nights. He also interned with Classical Movements, an American concert touring company, and at the Istanbul Music Festival. In 2018, he joined the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra as Marketing Executive.
Jean commenced his musical education at a very early age studying piano and violin, obtaining the FRSM aged 16. He pursued his studies at Edinburgh Napier University and at the Royal Academy of Music (London). A full-time member of the European Union Youth Orchestra for 6 years, he was appointed Principal 2nd Violin for the 2013 Summer Tour and received the prestigious Alexandar Pavlovic Award.
Diane Portelli
Diane started her training at the age of three at Tanya Bayona Princess Poutiatine Academy of Ballet where for many years she trained classical ballet, modern, contemporary and flamenco. Following this, she furthered her training at The Dance Workshop, where she is currently a part-time teacher and Choreographer. She was awarded the Luisello award for Spanish Dance and the Duke of Ellington award for Modern Dance. She then furthered her training in Pavia for a year.
Diane has attended various courses both locally and abroad, last international workshops were with renowned dance companies; Random Dance Company, Ultima Vez and Hofesh Shechter Company amongst others. She participated in the World Championships for Performing Arts in Hollywood, together with two other dancers, where they won two gold medals under the direction of Janet Vella. She has performed in various international festivals including Portugal, Hong Kong, Tunisia, Washington and Brussels. She is one of the choreographers in the creation of Kirana that has been touring internationally for the past 2 years. Diane obtained a Honours Degree in Commerce at the University of Malta as well as her DDE qualifications in modern theatre. In 2013 she started working with Moveo Dance Company as a dancer, choreographer and now director, and has performed in numerous productions with the company, both in Malta as well as overseas. In 2017 she held the lead role for Moveo’s contemporary rendition of Carmen. In 2018, together with Dorian Mallia, she was awarded the “Artist of the Year” award in Il-Premju għall-Arti in Malta.
Please note that today’s session is now fully booked. Should you wish to be in the waiting list, please send us an email on artsassistance@artscouncilmalta.org.
Session #3 of 6: Sustainable Approaches
Date: Wednesday 15th April 2020
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Across the world, organisations operating in the cultural and creative sectors have been looking at ways in which they can be proactive. Archives are being opened up for free, with past productions being streamed. These are excellent initiatives in the face of the crisis, but are they also sustainable approaches?
The panel for this session will be made up of Paolo Mangiola (Artistic Director, ŻfinMalta), Simone Spiteri (independent playwright, director, educator) and Sigmund Mifsud (Executive Chairman, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra), Alexandra Pace (founder and Director of Blitz) and Anita Debaere (Director of Pearle*). During the discussion Dr Michael Zammit Maempel will be answering questions in his capacity as a lawyer.
Diane Portelli will be carrying out movement interventions during the session with the aim of getting us to move collectively during the two-hour conversation.
Speakers:
Paolo Mangiola
Paolo Mangiola is a choreographer, dance educator and performer working within ballet and contemporary dance practices. Operating through the interstice of codified dance and ordinary movement, he's interested in exploring its relationship in the context of our interconnected society, drawing inspiration from various artistic sources, the web and emerging movements.
As a performer, Paolo collaborated and danced for artists and choreographer such as Wayne McGregor, Deborah Hay, Martin Creed, Mauro Bigonzetti and Jacopo Godani.
Alongside his work as a dancer he decided at a young age to devote himself to the exploration of his artistic practice, refining his studies at The Place, London, achieving in 2015 a Master in Choreography.
He created works for the Royal Ballet, Tanztheater Nürnberg, Aterballetto and Balletto di Roma and his choreographies have been performed in theatres as well as in contemporary art galleries and urban spaces in the UK, US, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain, Serbia and have been broadcasted worldwide from the cultural platform Nowness.
Currently, he is curating the contemporary dance department at the Scuola del Balletto di Roma. He is a guest teacher of choreography and dance history at the University of Malta and a full-time teacher of composition at the English National Ballet School, London.
Paolo was appointed resident choreographer at Balletto di Roma in 2015. In 2017, Paolo was appointed artistic director of the ŻfinMalta Dance Ensemble.
Image credit: Matt Thompson
Simone Spiteri
Simone was born in 1983 and trained for her Diploma in acting at the Malta Drama Centre between 1996 and 2004. She obtained her B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. in Theatre Studies from the University of Malta.
She set up her own theatre company, Dù, in 2004 in which she performs, directs and writes. Her written and directed work has been performed in Denmark, Egypt, Sicily, Spain, Macedonia, USA, UK and France. Two of her written works Appuntamenti (2009) and Kjaroskur (2011) won first prize in the National Francis Ebejer contest for playwriting. Both Appuntamenti and Lacuna (2006), have been chosen as one of the 120 best plays for the European stage in the European Theatre Convention’s (ETC) bi-annual publication. She has written extensively for ŻiguŻajg International Children’s Festival to sold-out performances withplays such as: Il-Ħajja Xejn Cool ta’ Teenager Jismu Julian (2012), #babydaddy (2014), Fly Flynn (2014) and Ineż kienet Perf(etta) (2016) with several re-runs and tours across Maltese schools.
In between her company’s productions she often collaborates with other theatrical Companies on the main Maltese stages and has worked with MADC; Mrs. Warren’s Profession (2011), Twelfth Night (2011), The Winter’s Tale (2012), Skylight (2017), Unifaun Theatre; Olly’s Prison (2013) and The Price of One (2014), An Enemy of the People (2018). Her work as a director has included: Red for FM Theatre Productions and Lorca’s Blood Wedding at the Manoel Theatre where she worked as Drama Consultant between 2011 and 2013.
Simone teaches adolescents and lectures part-time within the Theatre Studies department at the University of Malta and has published two History textbooks with Merlin Publications. In 2014 she was also an International Playwright Observer at New Visions, New Voices at the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C. and a chosen writing resident at La Chartreuse in Avignon, France in 2016.
In 2017 she also published her first fiction work with Il-Vjaġġatauri taż-Żmien, the first book in her Il-Vinkulari series aimed at young readers.
Sigmund Mifsud
Sigmund Mifsud was a full-time trumpeter with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) from 1998 to 2013. At the end of this period, he was appointed Executive Chairman of the MPO. His career as a performer includes performing as a session musician with various orchestras in musical productions, television appearances, and solo recitals. Mifsud also performed as lead trumpeter with the Johann Strauss School of Music Big Band in three editions of the Malta Jazz Festival. He also founded the Sliema Youth Band. In 2004, Mifsud produced the first edition of the National Orchestra GOES POP. it was in the second edition, in 2005, that he was entrusted with the role of musical director of the National Orchestra.
This proved to be a successful formula, with Mifsud directing the following two editions of 2006 and 2007.
One of the highlights of Mifsud’s works direction is definitely Rockestra, a concert unique in its concept for Malta. Rockestra is organised annually under the patronage of the President of Malta in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.
Mifsud’s career was further progressed when he was appointed Executive Chairman of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra 7 years ago. Through his chairmanship, the orchestra has gained a remarkably sustained amount of work. This continuous series of performances includes complex, rich repertoires presented in the Maltese islands for the very first time, such as The Rite of Spring.
Under his guidance, the orchestra has garnered international visibility, greater popularity and an increased following. This was partly brought about by the many overseas MPO tours, touting in cities such as Moscow, New York, Munich, Beijing, Vienna, to name a few.
Another of Mifsud’s innovations is the MPO Academy for aspiring young local musicians. The Academy supports a number of music interns and assists young musical talent in continuing their Instrumental studies abroad.
Alexandra Pace
Alexandra Pace (b.1977) is an artist and curator. Through her multidisciplinary artistic practice, she works predominantly with found material, still photography and film. Educated at Central Saint Martins University of the Arts London, Alexandra’s interest lies in duration and temporality in the work of art as specifically relevant to photography, film, new media and technology. Alexandra is also the founder and Director of Blitz, a non-profit contemporary art project space in Valletta, Malta. Established in 2013, Blitz has been pivotal in the development of Malta’s contemporary art scene and has formed an identity and a presence which has extended beyond the island to the international art world. Blitz has had a substantial impact on the Maltese art scene by filling a void that existed between cultural institutions and artist studios, which is evident through the high engagement of audiences and applicants to open calls.
Anita Debaere
Anita Debaere is Director of Pearle*-Live Performance Europe. This European sector federation counts, through its member associations, more than 10 000 organisations in the live performance sector across Europe. Pearle* is also recognised as European employers association, taking part in European sectoral social dialogue. Anita Debaere holds a master in Political and Social sciences and Communication Science from the University of Ghent. She also holds a post-degree in Arts Management from the City University of London. Anita Debaere worked in the classical music sector and in the energy sector, before joining Pearle*. Anita Debaere sits in different steering committees of European projects, she is regularly invited for studies and at conferences or stakeholder meetings to give expert views on sectoral questions, in particular in relation to cultural mobility. Anita Debaere also volunteers on the board of a group of 11 primary and secondary schools.
Dr Michael Zammit Maempel
Michael graduated from the University of Malta in 2001 with a doctorate degree in law and was called to the Maltese Bar in 2002 following which he immediately started working with GVZH Advocates (www.gvzh.com.mt), a top-tier law firm in Malta. During that time he practised in most areas of civil and commercial law, and headed the firm’s Technology & Media Department, focussing particularly on data protection and privacy law, advising both local as well as international clients. He also acted as legal counsel to some of Malta’s foremost businesses, including several listed entities, and for whom he also managed their diverse legal teams based in Latvia, Greece, Poland and Romania.
In 2016 he completed a master’s degree in computers and communications law from Queen Mary University of London and that same year he decided to move on and to set up his own consultancy office dealing almost exclusively in intellectual property law, media and technology issues. He simultaneously took on the role of group general counsel at the MMH Group of Companies (www.mmh.com.mt), one of Malta’s foremost groups in the marine oil & gas industries – primarily with the scope of setting up and running their legal and regulatory department.
Michael is currently the Project Manager for the legal team working on the RED-Alert Project (www.redalertproject.eu), an EU project funded through the Horizon2020 Programme, and which aims at delivering an IT solution for the real-time early detection of online terrorist content, using natural language identification, social network analysis and artificial intelligence. In this capacity he leads a team of five research lawyers on this project, providing support to a consortium of seventeen EU and non-EU partners.
Away from his professional life, Michael is an active traveller and also sings as a tenor with Cappella Sanctae Catharinae, Malta’s only all-male voice ensemble that specialises in baroque and late renaissance music.
Diane Portelli
Diane started her training at the age of three at Tanya Bayona Princess Poutiatine Academy of Ballet where for many years she trained classical ballet, modern, contemporary and flamenco. Following this, she furthered her training at The Dance Workshop, where she is currently a part-time teacher and Choreographer. She was awarded the Luisello award for Spanish Dance and the Duke of Ellington award for Modern Dance. She then furthered her training in Pavia for a year.
Diane has attended various courses both locally and abroad, last international workshops were with renowned dance companies; Random Dance Company, Ultima Vez and Hofesh Shechter Company amongst others. She participated in the World Championships for Performing Arts in Hollywood, together with two other dancers, where they won two gold medals under the direction of Janet Vella. She has performed in various international festivals including Portugal, Hong Kong, Tunisia, Washington and Brussels. She is one of the choreographers in the creation of Kirana that has been touring internationally for the past 2 years. Diane obtained a Honours Degree in Commerce at the University of Malta as well as her DDE qualifications in modern theatre. In 2013 she started working with Moveo Dance Company as a dancer, choreographer and now director, and has performed in numerous productions with the company, both in Malta as well as overseas. In 2017 she held the lead role for Moveo’s contemporary rendition of Carmen. In 2018, together with Dorian Mallia, she was awarded the “Artist of the Year” award in Il-Premju għall-Arti in Malta.
Bookings are now closed.
Registration will close on Wednesday 15th April at noon. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Session #2 of 6: Shifting Online
Date: Wednesday 8th April 2020
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Immediacy has taken on a completely new meaning in the time of COVID-19. How can individuals be better enabled to shift work online and have full teams working efficiently? Is there the need for a fund for capital investment in software? What kind of paid initiatives can be set up and executed remotely, and how can these go beyond the online experience?
The panel for this session will be made up of Victor Mayot (IETM), Chris Peregin (Lovin Malta), Jon Mallia (Producer & Writer), Neil Navarro and Gordon Grech. Dorian Mallia will be carrying out movement interventions during the session with the aim of getting us to move collectively during the two-hour conversation.
Speakers:
Victor Mayot
Victor Mayot graduated in political sciences and history of arts in 2009. Linking international relations and cultural management, he worked abroad for the French cultural diplomatic network. Back in France, he left the public sector but not the international cultural relations and joined the Maison d’Europe et d’Orient and then Transeuropéennes. After a couple of years working from Paris on cultural exchanges in the performing arts, he was brought to take over IETM’s meetings coordination from 2015 on. In this frame he aims at offering space for inspiration, critical thinking and debate on topics of general and particular interest to the performing arts sector.
Chris Peregin
Christian Peregin is the CEO and founder of Lovin Malta (www.lovinmalta.com), an award-winning platform that has become the inside track to everything Maltese. The website was launched in 2016 and has trended into a household name thanks to its particular brand of daily news, humour and insider tips about the hottest events and food outlets on the island. Lovin Malta forms part of the media franchise Lovin Group, which is also represented in Dublin, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Christian Peregin is an award-winning journalist and former PR consultant who started his career at Times of Malta and later worked at BRND WGN before starting Lovin Malta.
Jon Mallia
Jon Mallia began his creative career in Malta’s music scene, particularly rap & hip-hop. A talented lyricist, he was encouraged by his peers to pursue his craft in writing farther, forking out into screen-writing and theatre play scripting. He is now engaged in producing and writing several projects for TV and cinema.
Neil Navarro
Neil Navarro is an associate at Total IT Solutions, a firm specializing in independent IT consultancy and providing small to large bespoke business IT network solutions. After completing his BA in Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Malta, Neil became a qualified Microsoft Certified System Engineer specialising both in local server and cloud solutions. He has been a Microsoft Certified Trainer since 2016 and teaches various advanced Microsoft technologies such as Server, Azure and Office365 at Pricewaterhousecoopers Academy in Qormi.
Gordon Grech
A technology, engineering and business enthusiast. For the past 10 years, he dedicated his professional focus towards building knowledge and experience in all major areas of computer technology, through a technology start-up which he co-founded in 2010. Over the years, he co-lead the evolution of this company into Arkafort, an established technology solutions provider. He is also involved in technical and administrative operations in the aviation sectors.
Dorian Mallia - Moveo Dance Company
Founder/ Artistic Director of Moveo Dance Company and a dance practitioner/scholar. Graduated from Central School of Ballet (London), where he obtained a degree in professional dance and performance, and pursued a Master degree in Performing Studies (Dance) at the University of Malta. Before proceeding to the CSB, he attended the JCDC, Malta, Urdang Academy, Covent Garden, London and the Hungary State Academy. He has performed at top international venues with companies including European Ballet in the UK, RBR Dance Company in Verona (Italy), LaMov Compania de Danza (Spain), Paganini Dance Company in Rome and Mavinkhoodance (Singapore) to mention a few.
Bookings are now closed.
Session #1 of 6: Creating Opportunity Out of Crisis
Date: Wednesday 1st April 2020
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
These sessions will start off by acknowledging the extraordinary context which COVID-19 has placed everyone in, including the cultural and creative sectors. History shows us that creating opportunity out of the crisis is indeed possible - but how do we do that in the face of such uncertainty and instability? How are we meant to create connections in a time of global isolation?
The panel for this session will be made up of Kathrin Deventer (European Festivals Association), Kristina
Borg (socially engaged artist), Silvana Aquilina Naudi (Gestalt Psychotherapist). Dorian Mallia will be carrying out movement interventions during the session with the aim of getting us to move collectively during the two-hour conversation.
Speakers:
Kathrin Deventer - European Festivals Association
Kathrin Deventer is the Secretary General of the European Festivals Association (EFA). Kathrin is a Co-founder and Board member of the European House for Culture, an initiative of EFA, a member of the Strategy Group of “A Soul for Europe”, co-initiator and board member of The Festival Academy (TFA) and launched with EFA the new programme for arts festivals EFFE – Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe including its FestivalFinder.eu. She served as a member of the Culture Committee of the EU’s “New Narrative for Europe” project. She has a special interest in culture and its role in civil society engagement and issues connected to the recognition of the importance of culture in society. She believes in a cultural Europe which emerges from responsibilities and interactions between people and organisations from all sectors in society.
Kristina Borg - Socially engaged artist
Kristina Borg is a freelance socially engaged artist and an art educator. In her interdisciplinary research-practice, she spends time integrating into specific communities and devotes her attention to relationships between people. In dialogue with the community and/or the place, her work focuses on socio-political issues in urban-collective spaces. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education and a Master’s degree in Visual Arts and Curatorial Studies. Borg placed first in the 3rd edition of Divergent Thinkers-Malta and she forms part of the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators. She collaborated in a number of local and international projects as artist, curator, exhibition designer and project manager.
Silvana Aquilina Naudi - Gestalt Psychotherapist & Systemic Family Therapist
Silvana Aquilina Naudi's passion for understanding human emotions and behaviours has been her driving force propelling her to further her studies and knowledge in these areas.
When faced with everyday life stressors and traumas, it is not uncommon for human beings to find themselves struggling. She believes that we are “the captains of our own ship” and thus her work is to support individuals, couples and family systems to reconnect with their strengths and find ways both old and new ways to work through their difficulties. She does not believe in a single approach, hence her training in different modalities: these include various approaches in Gestalt Therapy and the different schools of thought within the Family Therapy and Systemic Practice.
Since 2004 Silvana has worked with the 2 main addiction agencies in Malta: Caritas and Sedqa, whilst also maintaining a private practice. In the last 2 years she has shifted all her energy into her private practice. Her educational background includes a B.Psy (Hons) from the University of Malta, a Postgraduate Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy from EAPTI-GPTIM: Gestalt Psychotherapy Institute Malta and an MA in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice from the University of Malta. Currently, she is following a long-distance course in Systemic Family Constellations.
Dorian Mallia - Moveo Dance Company
Founder/ Artistic Director of Moveo Dance Company and a dance practitioner/scholar. Graduated from Central School of Ballet (London), where he obtained a degree in professional dance and performance, and pursued a Master degree in Performing Studies (Dance) at the University of Malta. Before proceeding to the CSB, he attended the JCDC, Malta, Urdang Academy, Covent Garden, London and the Hungary State Academy. He has performed at top international venues with companies including European Ballet in the UK, RBR Dance Company in Verona (Italy), LaMov Compania de Danza (Spain), Paganini Dance Company in Rome and Mavinkhoodance (Singapore) to mention a few.
Dr Silvana Aquilina Naudi's presentation is available here.
Kristina Borg's presentation is available here.
