Vision 2050 launch ‘deserved to make a statement’

The artistic director behind the grand unveiling of the Vision 2050 strategy last Friday said the entrance to Valletta was the “perfect spot” for the launch of the national event.

“If you are going through all that effort to create this large project, then it deserves to make a statement,” Eno Henze said.

The government unveiled its Malta Vision 2050 strategy in an elaborate, lavish ceremony outside the capital. A large stage was erected at the entrance to Valletta, with temporary arches placed over the bridge leading into the city.

The temporary closure of the area caused some diversions for pedestrians entering the capital days before the launch.

Apart from the stage, a large pavilion was built close to the Triton Fountain. The pavilion hosts a 15-minute immersive experience aimed at audiences of all ages.

Despite the bright lights, music and fireworks, not everyone praised the launch of the island’s 25-year policy document. The green party, ADPD, described the launch as a “superficial spectacle” for a document that fails to focus on well-being and sustainability-focused alternatives.

On social media, many described the launch as “money down the drain” and “cheap propaganda on the eve of an election”.

Responding to the backlash, Henze, responsible for the stage design, launch event and immersive film, said there could not have been a better place for the launch in such a prominent location.

“We were very happy that we could carry out the idea of placing the stage at such a central location in the city.

“The launch was surrounded by the capital’s heritage and Malta’s iconography, while the bridge symbolised our connection to the future. It was the perfect spot.”

The arches symbolising portals into Malta’s future. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

He argued that a project of such a scale needed visibility and a place which is easily accessible.

“If you are shy about an idea, then you won’t succeed. You need to take that risk and, though you might have some people disagreeing with you, in the end, if you aim high, you will succeed.”

Henze said he could not comment on the costs of the launch.

The German artistic director said that, in the four months preparing for the launch, he wanted to make sure to reflect the island’s rich history and its commitment to moving forward with self-confidence.

“In the time I spent researching, I found out how proud the Maltese are of their history and how many people have come to the island from different places and backgrounds, yet, the island is rich in its culture and identity,” he said.

“The whole project is about how Malta keeps true to its identity and is forward-looking in its future.”

He emphasised that the large, illuminated rings which framed Valletta’s bridge symbolised Malta’s “portals into the future” and explained how the stage design centred on the four rings also represented the strategy’s four pillars.

The event had a ‘ceremonial’ take to it, where participants would be standing in front of the portals to “promise and commit to a brighter 25 years”.

Henze, the managing director of NSYNK, collaborated with Markgraph and was the brain behind the stage design of the launch event and the immersive 15-minute film shown in the pavilion. The film features Malta’s national bird, the blue rock thrush (Il-merill), as a narrator that tells the story of Malta in the future. A ring of light appears between each chapter, symbolising a new “portal” for each theme of the 2050 Vision strategy.

Henze said the production aimed to balance entertainment with education, while outlining the government’s goals for improved healthcare, stronger financial services and more resilient institutions.

The pavilion, opened to the public on Saturday, is free and will remain there for three months.