1.
Introduction
The cultural strategy for the Northern Region outlines the overarching
cultural themes and priorities for the region from 2022 onwards. This
cultural strategy, a first for the region, was developed with the Regional
Council, Local Councils, non-governmental cultural organisations, Public
Cultural Organisations, creative practitioners and residents of the localities.
The Northern Region includes the following localities: Mellieħa, Mġarr,
Mosta, Naxxar, St Paul’s Bay, Ħ’Attard, Ħal Balzan, San Ġwann and Mtarfa.
he Provision of Cultural Strategy
Development and Implementation to Local
Councils and Regional Councils project is
led by Arts Council Malta in collaboration with the
Local Government Division and the Local Councils
Association. It forms part of the ESF.04.079 project
titled Create 2020: Investing in Cultural and
Creative Capacity Skills in Malta’s Public Sector
that is financed through the European Social Fund,
Operational Programme II – European Structural and
Investment Funds 2014 – 2020 Investing in Human
Capital to Create More Opportunities and Promote
the Well-Being of Society. The co-financing rate of
the project is 80% EU funds and 20% national funds.
This strategy:
→Explores and measures the asset base for culture
in the Northern Region.
→Provides an overview of the key cultural assets of
the region, the distinctive role played by culture,
a gap analysis, and recommendations for building
capacity and leveraging strengths so that culture
can play a key strategic role in the development of
the region.
→Makes the strategic case for culture – as a vital
ingredient for civil society, for inclusive growth,
and sustainable approaches to community
and place.
→Provides opportunities for collaboration and
benchmarking with regions across Europe – so that
the Region can be both a pathfinder and a partner
to best practice culture-led development.
The research which underpins this strategy
involved extensive qualitative consultation to
map and understand the cultural assets of the
region. It included a desk-based analysis of cultural
assets, a survey, and a period of critical discussion
and consultation which provided a set of fresh
perspectives on the role that culture can play in
shaping the regions of the Maltese Islands. The
strategy recognises the valuable contribution that
culture already makes to the different regions,
but also highlights the potential for a far wider
engagement and development that would deliver a
better future for all.
The overall aim of this strategy is to make the six
regions of the Maltese Islands more dynamic, more
open, more distinctive, and more enjoyable places,
harnessing the power of culture to build stronger,
healthier and more cohesive communities, to
diversify and strengthen the economy, to revitalise
Maltese heritage and to help address the social
and economic challenges that the Maltese Islands
face. For the purposes of this strategy, culture is
being defined in its widest sense to embrace our
identities and communities, our heritage, museums,
local music halls, theatres, libraries, festivals, feasts,
events, and cultural practitioners – artists, makers,
performers, musicians, writers and the wider
creative talent pool.
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North Regional Cultural Strategy