Julie Zahra Calls For The Arts To Be Enshrined In Malta’s Constitution In First Legislative Move
In her first legislative move since being elected to Parliament, PN MP Julie Zahra called for the arts to be enshrined within Malta’s Constitution.
Zahra, who is the PN’s spokesperson for the arts and culture, tabled a motion that, if passed, would see the State constitutionally oblige itself to promote the development of the arts.
Right now, the State is already constitutionally obliged to promote the development of culture, but Zahra pointed out that there is a difference between arts and culture.
“The two are distinct from each other even if can be common ground,” she said. “If this motion passes, the supreme law of the land will recognise in its declaration and principles that the State should promote both culture and the arts.”
“This shows how Parliament can recognise the importance of the arts and place it within the highest law of the land where it belongs.”
Zahra, who is herself a music teacher by profession, also called for a revamp of the education sector to give more importance to artistic subjects.
“Subjects like painting, music and manual artistic work must become part of the national curriculum and should be treated way more seriously,” she said.
“Our schools prepare children for tomorrow’s world, not only in terms of finding a job but in forming them into citizens of a modern state, one in which you feel proud that your artistic expressions caused others to feel emotions and contributed to diversify and improve our national culture.”
Do you agree with Julie Zahra’s proposal?
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