Titled Imagine 18, the Valetta's bid aims towards a long-term, culture-led regeneration that sees cultural and creative activity as the most dynamic facet of Valletta and Malta’s socio-economic life. This vision is inspired by the National Cultural Policy and identifies culture as the driving force in building individual creative careers, while promoting well-being. Valletta 2018 is an exciting opportunity to experience cultural identity afresh in new contexts that push boundaries and allow for ideas, dialogue, creativity and innovation to flow freely.
David Felice, Chairman of the Valletta 2018 Foundation said Valletta has in the past months worked hard at its plans for 2018. He pointed out that this is only the beginning of a long journey, one that will hopefully take Valletta far beyond the scope of the year itself. He added that Valletta’s bid, aims to capture the imagination of both locals and Europeans. It is inspired by a call to imagine a future which is better than its present. Valletta also knows that ultimately any ECoC is as successful as the Cultural Programme it presents and delivers. The Cultural Programme is the heart of the bid.With this in mind, since the presentation of the first draft of the Bid Book in January earlier this year and the written opinion of the selection panel, the Foundation has embarked on a wide process of public engagement wherein the public was invited to come forward with ideas for the Cultural Programme. A series of events, confernces and workshops brought together some 250 interested individuals and organisations who contributed their ideas and proposals for the Culture Programme which forms an important part of the bid book. Initiators of projectors will be invited to develop their projects further into realisation in collaboration with the Valletta 2018 artistic team.
The Outline Cultural Programme achieved its final form by Artistic Director Wayne Marshall and his team of Artistic Programme Directors, who developed the ideas sent in by various organisations and individuals structured around four thematic areas: Generations, Routes, Cities and Islands.