Outrage and disbelief erupted throughout Malta’s cultural circles and the public as news broke of the Arts Council’s eyebrow-raising €25,000 contract awarded to Mark Camilleri’s publishing house, Dar Camilleri. This not-so-innocent deal, camouflaged as a report on “Commercialising Malta’s Culture Industries and Tapping Private Capital,” reeks of insider favoritism and questionable judgment.
One has to question the opaque processes of the Arts Council, operating under the watch of Culture Minister Owen Bonnici. What exactly were the criteria (if any) that led to the selection of Dar Camilleri for such a crucial task? Why has the duration of this suspicious contract been conveniently omitted, leaving the public in the dark?
Arts Council
A poignant fact adds fuel to the fire: Mark Camilleri’s publishing house, Dar Camilleri, only emerged in 2021, in the aftermath of his government contract with the National Book Council being abruptly terminated. Are we looking at a desperate attempt to revive Camilleri’s dwindling influence, now backed by public funds?
The public demands to know if the Arts Council even considered other experts, entities, or the profound implications of awarding this contract to a recently established enterprise. The €25,000 doesn’t just represent money; it’s a glaring symbol of the misuse of cultural funds in an ecosystem that desperately needs transparency and accountability.
Owen Bonnici
In light of this debacle, the people of Malta deserve a rigorous explanation and an immediate review of how such financial decisions are made under the Arts Council’s regime. It’s high time for Minister Bonnici and the entire Council to answer for this egregious mishandling and restore integrity to Malta’s cultural stewardship.
1 Comment
Forget about the ‘national arts counsil, It is a blatant abuse of public funds by Minister Qwen Bonnici. Kullhadd galanthom bi-flus il-poplu. Regardless of the intended scope of Qwen Bonnici’s move, the majority of laborites has been stabed in their back by Owen Bonnici.