The 2024 Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival
28-31 August
Index of dates and events
| Dates in August | Times | Locations | Events |
| Wed 28 | 16:00 | Valletta Design Cluster | Masterclass with Malika Booker |
| Wed 28 | 19:30 | Valletta Design Cluster | Open Mic |
| Fri 30 | 19:00 | MCAST Campus, Paola | Encounter with Claudio Beorchia | The First Evening |
| Sat 31 | 20:00 | MCAST Campus, Paola | The Second Evening |
Introduction
The 19th edition of the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival organised by Inizjamed will be held between Wednesday 28 and Saturday 31 August 2024. All events are going to be held at the Valletta Design Cluster and the MCAST Campus in Paola.
The festival will feature seven authors from five different countries: David Aloisio from Malta, Raymond Antrobus from the United Kingdom, Malika Booker – a British poet of Guyanese and Grenadian parentage, Mario Cardona from Malta, Irene Chias – an Italian novelist residing in Malta, Josep Pedrals from Catalonia, and Maja Ručević from Croatia.
Readings will be mostly in Maltese and English, but some short works will also be read in their original language.
Rounding off the experience will be the jazz band, The Hinge Project led by Jes Psaila, lovely food and drinks by POPP, and just as importantly, a book stall featuring the works of the guest authors and more.
This year’s festival is supported by Arts Council Malta through the Investment in Cultural Organisations fund, and by MCAST, APS Bank and Versopolis.
The Events
Friday 2 August
A reading for the elderly was organised at St Vincent De Paul. Priscilla Cassar lead a closed event during which Mario Cardona read his poems accompanied by musicians, Carol Ciantar and Beatriz Tomás.
Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 August
Writing workshops with children were held in Attard and Qormi. These were led by David Aloisio.
Wednesday 28 August
Masterclass with Malika Booker.
Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, this is a useful workshop. Three hours with one of the best contemporary poets in the UK, on writing autobiographical poetry.
Time: 16:00.
Place: The Valletta Design Cluster, Valletta.
Fee: €50 / €35 for students (nibbles and drinks will be provided).
Reserve your seat through this form.
Updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/413275928429406/
Wednesday 28 August
Multilingual Open Mic with the participation of the Festival authors and other special guests.
Time: 19:30.
Free entrance.
Place: The Valletta Design Cluster, Valletta.
Registration to read at the event is now full, but everybody is welcome to attend and listen.
Updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/1877153312806515/
The Evenings at the MCAST Campus.
The following events will all take place at the MCAST Campus, in Paola.
Friday 30 August
Claudio Beorchia is an Italian interdisciplinary artist, who is currently engaged in Spazju Kreattiv‘s artist-in-residence programme. Claudio will talk about the importance of text in his artistic practice and he will present a preview of the project he is creating in Malta.
This residency is organised by Spazju Kreattiv in collaboration with the Valletta Design Cluster, the Valletta Cultural Agency, the Ministry for Gozo, and with the support of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di La Valletta.
Time: 19:00.
Cost: included in the Festival ticket.
Place: The MCAST Campus, Paola.
Updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/353629107794475/
Friday 30 August
The authors performing this evening will be Mario Cardona, Irene Chias, Josep Pedrals and Maja Ručević.
There will also be music by The Hinge Project featuring Jes Psaila, Mark Attard, Luke Briffa and André Micallef.
POPP will be supplying delectable food and drinks, and there will be the all-important book stand, featuring works by the guest authors and others.
Time: 20:00.
Tickets: €5 a night, €8 for both.
Place: The MCAST Campus, Paola.
Transport: Free and ample parking available. Easy to reach by bus as well.
Updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/1870289790144433/
Children under 10 enter for free. Some of the works read during the festival might require an adult audience.
Saturday 31 August
The authors performing this evening will be David Aloisio, Malika Booker and Raymond Antrobus.
There will also be music by The Hinge Project featuring Jes Psaila, Mark Attard, Luke Briffa and André Micallef.
POPP will be supplying delectable food and drinks, and there will be the all-important book stand, featuring works by the guest authors and others.
Time: 20:00.
Tickets: €5 a night, €8 for both.
Place: The MCAST Campus, Paola.
Transport: Free and ample parking available. Easy to reach by bus as well.
Updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/1870289790144433/
Children under 10 enter for free. Some of the works read during the festival might require an adult audience.
The authors will be in Malta throughout the week of the festival to take part in the Translation Laboratory, led by Nadia Mifsud and Keith Borg. The authors will be translating each other’s works, and reading them during the Festival evenings.
The 2024 edition of the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival and the Translation Laboratory are being held in partnership with Arts Council Malta and Literature Across Frontiers, with the help of MCAST, APS Bank and Versopolis. The Festival is also supported by Għaqda tal-Malti – Università, the Valletta Cultural Agency, the Valletta Design Cluster, and the Ulysses’ Shelter 3 project (cofinanced by the European Union).
The main graphic and other promotional material was designed by Naomi Gatt.
More information on the 2024 Malta Mediterranean Literature festival can be found on the Inizjamed Instagram account and on the Facebook page. Some events are free to attend unless otherwise indicated. Tickets for the final evenings of the Festival can be purchased from www.showshappening.com.
Directions
By Bus
If travelling from the North of Malta, your stop is Lourdes – 355. If travelling from further South, your stop is Lourdes – 402.
The routes that lead to these stops are:
In either case, the best route on foot from the bus stops is the one that crosses Triq Kordin via the pedestrian bridge, entering from Gate 9, the main entrance.
Information taken from the Malta Public Transport website and app, and is current up to 17 August 2024. Check both website and app for the latest information.
By Car
MCAST has a large parking facility which will be open free of charge. Entrance is from Gate 4, Triq il-Baċir (at the back, from the side of the industrial zone).
By Taxi
The best place to stop is right outside Gate 9, the main entrance on Triq Kordin.
