MCAST to move its Mosta arts school to Paola campus

MCAST is planning to move its Mosta arts school to its main campus in Paola, the college’s CEO Stephen Vella said on Saturday.  

MCAST’s Institute of Creative Arts will eventually move to the old junior lyceum in Paola’s Corradino area, Vella said.  

Around 1,100 students currently attend Mosta’s MCAST campus.  

Speaking on Andrew Azzopardi’s talk radio show on Campus FM, Vella said that work on renovating the old lyceum building, as well as new construction next to it has started. 

The MCAST paola campus is located in a far busier area of Malta. Photo: Google Earth

Part of the existing building is scheduled and will be renovated, while another part will be rebuilt, he said. 

Asked about the lecturers who do not want to leave the serene “vibe” of the Mosta campus, Vella said he understands lecturers who are against the move.  

“When I was there and leading the institute, I was leaning against the move," he admitted.   

The current arts campus is on the outskirts of Mosta along the Victoria lines and overlooks the green plain that separates the town from St Paul’s Bay. The main Paola campus is in a far busier area of Malta.  

Vella, however, said that the increasing number of students attending the arts institute means that the Mosta space is no longer fit for purpose.  

“We also want these students to mix with the other students,” he said. 

When contacted for comment, Vella said the project to rebuild the old Lyceum is currently at PA application stage. MCAST is also working to secure funding to redevelop the building, he said.

Vella said they are looking at a tentative timeframe of between three and five years to complete the project, but emphasised that all was still at a very early stage.