As a first event for Din l-Art Ħelwa’s  50th anniversary celebrations, Din l-Art Ħelwa held a reception in the President’s Room,  Casino Maltese, Valletta for the launch of the art exhibition, The GRAN SOCCORSO, Today’s Artists to the Rescue.

Artists Andrew Borg, Anna Galea, Anna Grima, Arnold Sultana, Carol Jaccarini, Claude Gaffiero, Daniel Cilia,  David Carrington, David G Curmi , Debbie Caruana Dingli,  Ethelbert Perini , Godwin Cassar, Henry Alamango, Janet Grech,  Jeni Caruana, Joe Pace Ross, John Borg Manduca, Kenneth Zammit Tabona, Kevin Casha, Lawrence Pavia, Maria Rossella Dalmas, Mark G Muscat, Martin L A Scicluna, Maurice Calleja, Noel Attard, Peter Vella de Fremaux, R H De Renzy Channer, Rachel Galea, Tonio Mallia, Vince Caruana artists generously donated their works to raise funds in aid of Din l-Art Ħelwa, Malta’s oldest environmental and heritage NGO which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2015.  Ms Michelle Muscat inaugurated the exhibition and dedicated much time to viewing and discussing the various exhibits.  After being shown at Casino Maltese, the works will be transferred to Din l-Art Ħelwa premises, 133, Melita Street, Valletta where they will shortly be available for viewing and purchase.

On Thursday 16th October, in the same hall at Casino Maltese and surrounded by the exhibition of paintings, Dott Sante Guido, art historian, spoke about the exchange in art between Italy and Malta – “Arte italiana – patrimonio maltese / arte maltese – patrimonio italiano, Italian art – Maltese heritage / Maltese art – Italian heritage ”  This was a fascinating and erudite run through of the exchanges between Italian artists in Malta and Maltese artists in Italy .  Examples covered  Sicilian paintings of the fifteenth century until artists of the twentieth century, such as Antonio Sciortino who was the Director of the British School of Art in Rome until its closure in 1936.  Emphasis was made on Melchiorre Cafa’,  especially in the light of a newly discovered work by this artist in Rome.

These two events were much appreciated by the public, creating awareness to Din l-Art Ħelwa’s needs and its achievements over a period of 49 years.