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Malta steps into the limelight in lead up to Games

Latrobe City’s ‘adopted nation’ for the Commonwealth Games, Malta, steps into the limelight over the next few weeks with a range of exhibitions and concerts being held in the lead up to the Games.

By Latrobe City - 1st March 2006 - Back to News

An exhibition ‘Malta to Morwell’ at the Latrobe Regional Gallery from Friday 3 March until Tuesday 4 April portrays the Latrobe Valley Maltese community through photographs by artist Emmanuel Santos taken in 1990.

Currently showing at the Gallery until Wednesday 22 March is an exhibition titled ‘Common Goods’ featuring the works of Maltese descendent lace-maker Mary Farrugia and members of the Valley Lacemakers.

The Latrobe Regional Gallery recently hosted Mary Farrugia through a residency program being fostered in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games. Mary has been working throughout February with local lace-makers during her residency at the Gallery, to produce some exquisite examples of the lace-making craft which are being exhibited ‘Common Goods’ in conjunction with some of her own work.

A ‘Malta Day Mega Concert’ which is being held on Saturday 19 March at Kernot Hall features a special blend of Maltese, Italian, English and International music. The event has attracted enormous audience response and is now unfortunately sold-out.

The concert features the famous world-renowned duet from Malta, violinist George Curmi (‘Il Pusé’) accompanied by accordionist Yuri Charyguine, as well as Joe Galea ‘The Voice’ from Sydney.

While the Kernot Hall concert is already sold out, George Curmi will also feature on Saturday 18 March at the Gippsland Live Site.

Born in Malta, George studied the violin in Italy and began performing by the age of 13. He excels in all kinds of music, ranging from classical to modern and jazz. Since then he has performed all over Europe and Australia.

George is being joined at the Live Site by Maltese singer Irene Attard from Melbourne. Irene has a proven balanced repertoire catering for a wide variety of audiences with a focus on Maltese music.

The Live Site activities being presented on the day include a range of stunning performances including traditional Filipino dancers Alay Kapwa; Tolegu from the Solomon Islands, the African Showboyz from Ghana, and the Kusun Ensemble also from Ghana. Best of all, admission is free!

Latrobe City mayor, Cr Lisa Price, said that apart from the organised exhibitions and concerts, the colour of Malta will also be seen across Latrobe City over the next few weeks, with numerous Maltese flags being erected for the Commonwealth Games celebrations.

"Their presence reflects the special friendship that has been forged between Latrobe City and Malta through the Commonwealth Games’ ‘Adopt a Nation’ program; and also celebrates the contribution being made in our community by those of Maltese origin who have chosen to call Latrobe City their home," Cr Price added.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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