Students urged to seek arts sponsorships

The Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce is urging students to utilise its "special project programme" for financial assistance.

Society president Paul Asciak, who set up the fund a year ago, said that unfortunately few people knew that students with budgetary constraints could be sponsored.

The society, which was set up 150 years ago, offers several courses in arts, music, ganutell, parchment craft, tapestry, filigree and gilding.

It has been sponsoring artists and musicians to pursue their career abroad for many years, but this is the first time that it has devised a programme to help students, young or old, who have the potential but no money.

Mr Asciak, an acclaimed tenor, knows first-hand what it means to get financial backing. He rose to fame after the society sponsored him in 1952.

Mr Asciak is encouraging companies and individuals to donate Lm15 for one year to share the costs of the courses.

A number of fund-raising events are also being organised. The last event, a dinner at Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Sliema, was a huge success.

"We feel there are many who are unaware of the support they can receive and shy away from applying for courses if they don't have the money," he said.

"We are encouraging parishes and institutes to put forward people whom they know would like to follow one of the society's many courses," Mr Asciak said.

Any company which wishes to support the society's programme or anyone who wishes to utilise the available funds should contact the society on tel. 2124 4339.