The Malta Arts Council is collaborating with the Malta Trust Foundation on a groundbreaking project to encourage children with disabilities to develop their skills through playing a musical instrument. 

During a press conference held this afternoon, Malta Trust Foundation chairwoman Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca signed an agreement with the Malta Arts Council through which the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government will provide €45,000 over a three-year period for the purchase and maintenance of musical instruments at Villabianca in Birkirkara. A portion of the funds will be used for the professional development of practitioners working at Villabianca.

The residence will become Malta’s first music centre for children with diverse abilities, including children with autism and other disabilities. 

Ms Coleiro Preca said: “This is a historic project that will fill a gap in the field of music and performing arts for children with diverse needs who to date have not had an opportunity to develop such skills. 

“Through a specialised service provided for by this collaboration, we will be offering children an opportunity to enjoy music and the performing arts to enable them to reach their full potentional. I thank Minister Jose Herrera and the Arts Council for this generous donation which will help us invest in these children and also in the professionals who will be working with them.”

“Social inclusion has always been a priority for this government. So it’s a pleasure to oversee the signing of this MOU between Arts Council Malta and Malta Trust Foundation providing much needed financial assistance to the Villabianca project. Through this agreement the arts council will be directly assisting children with disabilities to enhance their knowledge of the arts, which will help them better integrate in society,” said Dr Herrera.

Villa Bianca, which is currently in the final stages of renovation, was donated to the Malta Trust Foundation by Maurice and Francina Abela for the benefit of children and young people with disabilities.

This building will soon be filled with children enjoying and creating music thanks to the funds provided by the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.