We, Studenti Graffitti, a student-led organisation at the University of Malta and MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology) have been left disappointed and alarmed by the recent public remarks made by the Culture Minister, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea.

To hear the individual appointed with safeguarding and nurturing our sector describe his time in office as “traumatic”, while also labeling creative thinking as “presumptuous and dangerous” is a huge insult to every arts student, educator and professional working in the Maltese cultural landscape.

As emerging artists and scholars, students in the arts and culture sector spend many years learning how to think critically, challenge boundaries and contribute to our collective identity. Art is not a hobby that must bow to “norms” nor is it a threat to be managed. It is a vital pillar of a democratic society. If the Minister views the very essence of our education and profession, which includes creativity, expression, and critical thought, with caution and suspicion, then he fundamentally lacks the vision required for this role.

There is no rigid single definition of arts and culture and any attempt by the state to push a single “correct” or “right” role for the artist is inherently authoritarian. Art cannot be boxed for political convenience nor should it be sterilized to avoid discomfort. This is particularly true given that art, creativity and science are inseparable factors in modern life and innovation; viewing them as separate categories belongs to an outdated way of thinking. By policing art, the state actively ignores how we learn today and attempts to create a division between fields that naturally help each other grow.

Furthermore, the Minister’s questioning of public funding demonstrates a complete failure to comprehend how a healthy cultural ecosystem actually survives. Public investment is essential for artistic research, experimentation, and community engagement. It ensures that culture belongs to everyone and not just to those looking for commercial profit or who have the money for it. True accessibility means removing the financial, systemic and geographical barriers that keep working class youths and marginalized communities from participating in the arts.

Leadership of the arts sector requires an advocate and an ally, not a critic who is uncomfortable with the nature of our industry. If Agius Galea finds his position in the cultural sector to be a “traumatic” experience and if he cannot view Malta’s artists with respect, but rather through a lens of suspicion, he should step down from his role.

The future of Maltese arts and culture belongs to those who advocate and want to actively build it, not those who fear it. Our sector needs to be led by someone who values free expression and understands the true social and economic reality of the arts.

Signed by: Studenti Graffitti
Endorsed by: JEF Malta, KSU, SDM, DESA, Betapsi, CASA, GħST, TDM, ICTSA, MIRSA, JCA, ESA, USPA, MKSA, S-Cubed, UESA, MHSA and GħSL

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Jekk il-Ministru tal-Kultura ma Jistax Jagħti Appoġġ għall-Arti, Għandu Jwarrab

Aħna, Studenti Graffitti – organizzazzjoni mmexxija minn studenti fl-Università ta’ Malta u fl-MCAST (il-Kulleġġ Malti għall-Arti, Xjenza u Teknoloġija) – ninsabu diżappuntati u mħassba dwar dak li ntqal b’mod pubbliku dan l-aħħar mill-Ministru tal-Kultura, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea.

Li tisma’ lill-persuna inkarigata mis-salvagwardja u t-trawwim tas-settur tagħna tiddeskrivi ż-żmien tagħha fil kariga bħala “trawmatiku”, u fl-istess ħin tiddeskrivi l-ħsieb kreattiv bħala “prużuntuż u perikoluż”, huwa insult kbir għal kull student tal-arti, edukatur u professjonist li jaħdem fix-xena kulturali Maltija.

Bħala artisti u studjużi emerġenti, l-istudenti fis-settur tal-arti u l-kultura jqattgħu ħafna snin jitgħallmu jaħsbu b’mod kritiku, jimirħu lil hinn mill-konfini u jikkontribwixxu għall-identità kollettiva tagħna. L-arti mhijiex passatemp li qiegħed hemm biex jobdi n-“normi”, u lanqas theddida li trid tiġi mrażżna. Hija pilastru vitali ta’ soċjetà demokratika. Jekk il-Ministru jħares lejn l-essenza tal-edukazzjoni u l-professjoni tagħna – li tinkludi l-kreattività, l-espressjoni u l-ħsieb kritiku – b’kawtela u sens ta’ suspett, allura huwa nieqes għalkollox mill-viżjoni meħtieġa għal dan ir-rwol.

M’hemmx definizzjoni waħda u riġida tal-arti u l-kultura, u kwalunkwe tentattiv mill-istat biex jimponi rwol “korrett” jew “tajjeb” fuq l-artist huwa, min-natura tiegħu, awtoritarju. L-arti ma tistax titpoġġa f’kaxxa għal skopijiet ta’ konvenjenza politika, u lanqas m’għandha tiġi “sterilizzata” biex nevitaw l-iskumdità. Dan huwa partikolarment minnu meta tqis li l-arti, il-kreattività u x-xjenza huma elementi inseparabbli fil-ħajja moderna u fl-innovazzjoni; huwa ħsieb antikwat li wieħed iqishom bħala kategoriji separati. Billi jipprova jikkontrolla l-arti, l-istat qed jinjora l-mod kif nitgħallmu llum il-ġurnata, u qed jipprova joħloq diviżjoni bejn oqsma li, b’mod naturali, jgħinu lil xulxin jikbru.

Barra minn hekk, il-fatt li l-Ministru jiddubita l-finanzjament pubbliku juri li assolutament ma fehemx kif verament taħdem ekosistema kulturali b’saħħitha. L-investiment pubbliku huwa essenzjali għar-riċerka artistika, l-esperimentazzjoni u l-involviment tal-komunità. Dan jiżgura li l-kultura tkun ta’ kulħadd, u mhux biss ta’ dawk li jfittxu profitt kummerċjali jew li għandhom il-mezzi finanzjarji biex igawduha. Aċċessibbiltà vera tfisser it-tneħħija ta’ ostakli finanzjarji, sistemiċi u ġeografiċi li jżommu liż-żgħażagħ mill-klassi ħaddiema u lill-komunitajiet emarġinati milli jipparteċipaw fl-arti.

It-tmexxija tas-settur tal-arti teħtieġ persuna li tiddefendi u turi appoġġ għal dan is-settur, mhux kritiku li jħossu skomdu bin-natura tal-industrija tagħna stess. Jekk Agius Galea jħoss li l-pożizzjoni tiegħu fis-settur kulturali hija esperjenza “trawmatika”, u jekk ma jistax iqis lill-artisti ta’ Malta b’rispett — iżda minflok iħares lejhom b’sens ta’ suspett — allura għandu jirriżenja mir-rwol tiegħu.

Il-futur tal-arti u l-kultura f’Malta huwa ta’ dawk li jiddefenduh u jridu jibnuh b’mod attiv, mhux ta’ dawk li jibżgħu minnu. Is-settur tagħna jeħtieġ tmexxija minn persuna li tapprezza l-libertà tal-espressjoni u tifhem ir-realtà soċjali u ekonomika proprja tal-arti.

Iffirmata minn: Studenti Graffitti
Bl-appoġġ ta’: JEF Malta, KSU, SDM, DESA, Betapsi, CASA, GħST, TDM, ICTSA, MIRSA, JCA, ESA, USPA, MKSA,
S-Cubed, UESA, MHSA u GħSL