On Sunday 16th August, the Valletta Pageant of the Seas will be returning to Valletta’s Grand Harbour. This event, which has now become a biannual appointment in the Grand Harbour’s calendar, will be taking a slightly different format, as for this edition, the public is being encouraged to watch it live on television, rather than from the capital’s shores. This is being done in order to keep following social distancing directives by the Public Health Authorities.
Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government José Herrera stated that “it is a pleasure for us to once again be having this unique show staged across the Grand Harbour, an event that has now become synonymous among summer activities in our capital city. We will be broadcasting this event live on television so that we can entertain the Maltese and Gozitan public, even during these unprecedented times.”
Valletta Cultural Agency Chairman Jason Micallef said that “It is very gratifying that one of Valletta 2018’s biggest projects, the Valletta Pageant of the Seas, has also become part of the VCA’s cultural programme for this year, as part of the legacy of Valletta 2018. The Valletta Pageant of the Seas is a great opportunity for the local and international arts sector, in the unique setting of the Grand Harbour.”
Activities kick off in the afternoon with Tellieqa Telliqun, an entertaining competition in the Grand Harbour between a number of teams who will be racing their homemade vessels without the use of oars, engines or other. Applications for participants are currently open. If you or someone you know is interested in taking part, we invite you to download the application form from the VCA website, www.vca.gov.mt, or to contact us by sending a message to Valletta Cultural Agency Facebook page. The call closes on the 29th of June 2020.
The evening will be characterized by a show consisting of 20 regatta boats and 40 sailing boats, bearing the name of Il-Mappa, which will be televised, live. Under the artistic direction of international performance director, curator, teacher and writer Chris Baldwin, the sails of these boats will be transformed into screens showing projections specially designed for this occasion. Baldwin was Creative Director of Galway, European Capital of Culture (Ireland), wrote and directed two major pieces of work as part of the London Olympic Games celebrations in 2011 and 2012, and was Curator of Interdisciplinary Performance for Wroclaw, European Capital of Culture in Poland. He has also directed widely in Spain, UK, Poland, Bulgaria and Germany. Under the musical direction of Andrew Alamango and with visuals by Charlie Cauchi, these screens will show images accompanied by music and the voices of several Beltin who will be narrating their stories.
For more information, follow the Valletta Cultural Agency on Facebook.