Valletta Cruise Port has welcomed the Art Explorer the world’s first itinerant museum-boat that will travel to 15 Mediterranean countries between spring 2024 and autumn 2026, connecting artists, arts organizations, curators, museums, nonprofit entities and Mediterranean people in a large-scale dialogue about the shared heritage and challenges of contemporary societies, with the aim of imagining a new vision of the Mediterranean.
The museum-boat berthed at Valletta Cruise Port, Xatt Pinto with the evocative backdrop of the historic gemstone Valletta Waterfront buildings is serving as the setting around which the Art Explora Festival running between this 21st and 31st March is taking place. This festival that travels the world's seas and oceans with the museum-boat offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences accessible free of charge taking place in port around the museum-boat in exhibition pavilions, with a program combining exhibitions, virtual reality, performances, conferences, film screenings, concerts and more. The festival includes key collaborations with Spazju Kreattiv and the Malta Biennale locally, and also internationally with the likes of the Louvre Museum and the Centre Pompidou.
The Art Explora Festival is offering a packed calendar of free activities, subject to booking, with visits by local schools/groups during the day, workshops, and also live music from acts and bands like Etnika, Brikkuni, Claire Tonna, Kor Malta; performances by the likes of Żfin Malta, children’s workshops, cinema, circus (non-animal) and more. Over 30,000 attendees are expected over the 10 days.
"We are honoured to have Valletta Cruise Port and Valletta Waterfront offering an evocative backdrop for the Art Explora Festival. Reflecting Global Ports Holding’s community vision and approach, we are proud to be supporting this 10-day festival providing a platform for Mediterranean cultures and communities to come together and share traditions and customs, ideas and perspectives through art, leading to valuable learning and appreciation of different cultures. It is insightful to have various topical areas being explored throughout the whole program including migration, climate change, displacement, borders, female roles, freedom and resilience to mention a few," commented Stephen Xuereb, COO of Global Ports Holding and CEO of Valletta Cruise Port.
More about the Art Explora Festival: www.vallettawaterfront.com/activity/art-explora-festival.