| |
I was quite intrigued by Minister
Zammit Dimech's article (The
Sunday Times, May 8) in which he gave a short account
of a symposium held the previous week in Paris discussing the role of culture in
Europe's further growth.
People like myself, who for the past few years have been addressing similar
conferences in other European cities organised by cultural bodies and European
governments, could deem Dr Zammit Dimech's article as a ray of hope for the
local literary field.
Unlike Malta, other European countries have vast programmes, funded by the
state, the private sector and other relevant associations, which aim at
promoting their language and their literature in other EU countries.
For instance, the eight ex-Communist states which together with Malta joined the
EU last year, have embarked on huge translation projects and they have also set
up the necessary networks and infrastructure to carry out these projects. It is
imperative to point out that these countries, some of which were not even
independent states up till a few years ago, launched these projects as part of
their preparation to join the Union.
As far as Malta goes, however, I know of no project or plan on the government's
part to study how the promotion of local literature is to be actuated, assuming
the government has any plans.
This is not to say that Maltese literature is not being translated and published
abroad. Writers like Maria Grech Ganado, Adrian Grima, Claire Azzopardi, myself
and maybe others have had more than one opportunity to have their work
translated into various languages and issued in prestigious collections. But,
unlike their European counterparts, local authors have no backing whatsoever
from the state and they have to rely on the goodwill of fellow writers and
friends to have their work translated, promoted and published abroad.
I had personally presented the previous Minister of Culture a detailed dossier
of what the so-called small EU member states, like Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania have been doing in their quest to have their literatures spread among
other European countries. It seems to me, however, that locally there is still a
grievous lack of vision of how to tackle things related to literature and
translation.
Fellow writers have no idea, for example, what the Malta Council for Culture and
the Arts (MCCA) is doing in this respect. While other EU member states have set
up entities with the specific aim of devising literary and cultural exchanges
for writers and artists from different EU countries, the MCCA within the
Ministry of Tourism and Culture has so far done very little in this respect.
In his article the minister praised the resolutions following the Paris meeting
as a good prospect for Maltese literature to reach a larger - European -
audience, as they seem to "represent an incredible opportunity for Malta's own
literary works that will automatically transcend frontiers". Unfortunately Dr
Zammit Dimech stopped short of disclosing what his ministry's plans are to give
Maltese writers this golden opportunity.
At this point one can only hope that the ministry, the MCCA, or some other body
will not take too long to come up with a concrete strategy which will eventually
widen the road for Maltese literature to cross the borders. |
|
| |
Encounters
Culture:
a definite project
Francis Zammit Dimech
(Minister of Tourism and Culture)
On the initiative of the French Ministry
of Culture and Communication, an important event took place in Paris at the
beginning of last week. Culture ministers from the member states of the European
Union met together with thinkers and artists to discuss culture's role in
Europe's further growth.
The French government gave tremendous importance to the event which was opened
on Monday morning by the President Jacques Chirac. He gave a keynote speech
about the importance of culture within the European framework not only from the
point of view of culture providing the basis of Europe's own identity but also
as a crucial keystone in the building of a common European future together.
In his own message to the Symposium on a Europe of Culture, as the event was
called, the French Minister for Culture and Communication, Renaud Donnedieu de
Vabres, pointed out that it is urgent that artists and writers should be invited
to join in the European debate.
In fact several hundred men and women from the world of letters and the arts,
from the 25 countries that make up the EU, met in Paris on Monday and Tuesday.
Apart from the invitation extended to me as Minister of Culture, Malta was ably
represented by Rev. Professor Peter Serracino Inglott and Professor Henry
Frendo.
The fundamental principle of 'Unity in Diversity' that guides the Union is of
particular relevance in the field of culture since one can draw a parallel
between the way the Union operates at an economic and political level and the
way creative artists open different routes that lead to a shared destiny.
The Paris symposium has taken further the theme of the conference organised in
Berlin last November, entitled 'A Soul for Europe'. That conference was opened
by the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, and brought together a large number
of persons involved in culture and politics at a high level, under the
chairmanship of the president of the Bundestag.
The Berlin and Paris meetings will before the end of this year be continued in
another European capital - Budapest. Other angles will be looked into and other
capitals are lining up to take the process further even next year. It is already
clear after the first two meetings, that there is growing momentum in favour of
a Europe of Culture.
As the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, stressed at
the Berlin event, in the hierarchy of values, cultural ones come above the
economic ones. Mr Barroso was again present at the Paris Symposium, and in his
concluding address expressed his total and unreserved faith in favour of a
Europe that affirms both its credentials as well as its future growth through
culture. He abandoned a prepared text that dealt with what the Commission is
already doing and plans to do in the cultural field in favour of a more
impromptu speech that came direct from his own heart. It was received with
incredible enthusiasm by all the persons present.
Another keynote speaker at this event was the President of the European Council
- the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker.
In his speech Mr Juncker pointed out that Europe cannot be summed up only in
terms of the market economy. That would be a narrow and restrictive focus.
In anticipation of the Paris symposium, four different workshops were organised
to address a number of relevant themes. These were the Books, Language and
Translation Workshop, the Cinema and Audiovisual Workshop, the Performing Arts
Workshop, and the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Workshop.
The results of these different workshops are of direct relevance to our country.
The one dealing with language, for instance, dealt with the disappearance of
learning the various languages of Europe in the different countries. Quoting
Umberto Eco, "the language of Europe is in the translation", emphasis was made
on leading literary works from the different European countries being translated
into the other languages, thereby ensuring much wider distribution and
appreciation.
This recommendation can in future on its own represent an incredible opportunity
for Malta's own literary works that will automatically transcend frontiers and
reach a much larger audience.
Similarly, the performing arts workshop that focused on theatre, music and dance
suggested that concrete initiatives be taken in favour of the training and
circulation of artists and professionals and that a European databank,
accessible to all, be set up for opera, music and theatre, along with a mobile
European Artistic University based on the exchange of artists and institutions.
Again, this initiative could offer in the future tremendous potential to our own
capable performers.
The workshop that discussed cultural heritage and tourism emphasised more
mobility of works and exhibitions, access to European photographic libraries and
museums as well as the development of a European heritage label for monuments
and sites indicating the European character of leading styles of architecture or
civilisations, like the UNESCO World Heritage List.
More than ever, I am convinced that our own national future as well as that of
the European Union as a whole, lies with culture. One can never equate growth
strictly to the economic sphere since that on its own would be artificial and
deprived of the kind of deep meaning for which the human being naturally craves.
The ministers present for this symposium have signed a declaration in favour of
a European Charter of Culture where "we, the representatives of the European
Union Member States, convinced that culture is at the origin of the Europe in
which we are living and that it represents a fundamental aspect of the European
identity and citizenship, undertake to make culture an essential priority of the
European construction process."
Moreover through this Declaration, European Ministers of Culture have reaffirmed
that culture also contributes to economic development, employment and social and
territorial cohesion and to Europe's influence in the world.
The Declaration recognises the special role of public cultural institutions in
the Member States to preserve and promote the diversity of artistic expression
and cultural content, as well as to affirm the diversity of media and opinions
intrinsic to democratic societies. The Declaration furthermore affirms the need
to guarantee adequate funding for European cultural projects, institutions and
networks.
The concluding paragraph sums it up: "We are convinced that compliance with and
active implementation of these principles can make culture a definite political
project for Europe. Based upon the preservation and promotion of cultural
diversity, this project will strengthen the feeling of a European identity,
awareness among all European citizens that they belong to a community of values
and their will to build a common future together."
It was an honour for me to be able to sign this Declaration together with other
Ministers of Culture from the EU member states.
In my address at the symposium's plenary session, I referred to Malta's own
cultural contribution to the rest of the European family, not least through our
language which is the only Semitic language in Europe, as well as through the
unique blend between different phases of our history as reflected in our
architecture, folk music and way of life that it manifest in our country.
Culture can never be inward looking, even if seen throughout the entire
geographical area of an enlarged European Union. It needs to represent an
ongoing dialogue with other cultures and modes of expression. The Malta
experience offers an appropriate synthesis of this principle.
Our experience and contribution will be part of the definite project represented
by culture as a priority area within the European Union in the coming years.
info@franciszammitdimech.com -
www.franciszammitdimech.com
This article originally appeared on
The Sunday Times, May 8 |
|