MEIA has ‘never found anything positive’ to say about Biennale, organisers say
Biennale says claims are unsubstantiated as MEIA raises concerns over payments, contracts and lack of engagement
The Malta Biennale has hit back at a local arts lobby that called for a review of the way the event was run, accusing it of repeatedly disparaging the festival.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Facts contradict MEIA”, the Malta Biennale responded to calls by the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association for a review of the biennale’s second edition.
MEIA has called for an investigation into alleged outstanding payments, unresolved contractual commitments, contractual breaches and continued communication difficulties.
The Malta Biennale said that, across its two editions, it had become customary for MEIA “to repeatedly disparage everything related to the Malta Biennale. MEIA has never found anything positive to say about the Malta Biennale".
It accused the association of choosing “to publicly tarnish the Biennale through a vague list of alleged shortcomings that are never substantiated” rather than offering constructive criticism.
The biennale said this year’s edition had been an even bigger success than the first, held in 2024, and had laid a solid foundation for the next edition in 2028.
It said the event was attracting artists from around the world, had seen an increase in proposals this year and was drawing applications from international curators to lead the biennale.
Applications to host pavilions during the event had also “increased substantially”, it said, adding that works from other biennales had also featured in this year’s edition.
The biennale said thousands of people had visited the event, although it did not provide a figure. It said visitor numbers were “significantly higher than two years ago”.
It also said international media had recognised Malta as an attractive destination while the biennale was taking place.
This year, there was also the announcement of the Malta Biennale Foundation, which falls under the responsibility of Heritage Malta.
The foundation was set up by Heritage Malta and the government through the Culture Ministry, following a Cabinet decision in March. The Malta Biennale said it was established to ensure the permanence of the contemporary arts festival.
“MEIA has now also spoken out against the establishment of this Foundation. Whatever happens within the Malta Biennale, MEIA appears determined to oppose it,” the biennale said.
MEIA said it was concerned that the foundation had been announced before the sector was presented with a transparent assessment of the outcomes, challenges and lessons from the second edition.
The second edition of the Malta Biennale was held between March and May of this year.
MEIA also said it had formally raised its concerns with Heritage Malta president Mario Cutajar, the Malta Biennale executive board and the artistic director.
It said it had tried several times to open a constructive dialogue with the biennale’s leadership, but claimed its efforts had fallen on deaf ears. It said it “considers the continued absence of engagement to be a matter of serious concern.”
The Malta Biennale said it was continually trying to improve and had carried out independent studies and surveys after each edition.
“The Malta Biennale places great importance on accountability in its processes and therefore has no difficulty with scrutiny by oversight entities regarding what took place during the Biennale,” it said.
It said it remained open to ideas and to constructive criticism to improve the festival.
"The Malta Biennale is the only biennale, among approximately 350 biennales worldwide, to have been selected by UNESCO to receive its patronage."