The Gozo Region is proud to be recognized as the Region of Culture for 2025. This initiative aims to showcase the region’s unique cultural heritage through a year-long programme of community outreach programs, events, and activities in collaboration with Local Councils in Gozo, stakeholders, organizations and artists. The Local Government Division funds this initiative within the Parliamentary Secretariat for Local Government. Under the artistic direction of Elyse Tonna, the programme aims to uncover hidden or overlooked narratives whilst strengthening local communities through a series of intimate and meaningful events. The artistic theme, Common Ground, highlights Gozo’s distinct character, shaped by its shared landscape and a commitment to unity, inclusivity, and collective experiences. Instead of large-scale events, it offers a year-long invitation to take a closer look—creating opportunities for collaboration, encouraging dialogue, and amplifying local voices.
The Gozo Region of Culture 2025 programme will celebrate Gozo’s cultural identity through a multidisciplinary approach, blending traditional and contemporary practices across dance, music, theatre, visual arts, cinema, literature, architecture and gastronomy. At its core, it seeks to empower emerging talent, encourage collaboration between local councils, creative practitioners, businesses, and grassroots organisations, and create inclusive cultural experiences that engage both local and international audiences.
By building on existing connections among cultural stakeholders while forging new partnerships, the programme aims to expand Gozo’s cultural network. It will also enhance and elevate ongoing initiatives, ensuring they align with the region’s evolving artistic vision and strategic goals.
Opening Weekend Activities
Instead of one central celebration, the Artistic team have worked with every Local Council to develop initiatives that took place across Gozo’s localities, forming a collective cultural celebration over a weekend that brought different spaces and communities to life. This approach serves as both an invitation to the public and a reflection of the programme’s ethos. Each event highlighted a meaningful aspect of its locality, showcasing distinctive places, traditions and art forms. By focusing on small-scale yet impactful interventions, the launch reinforced the Region’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and community engagement. The weekend opened with an event on Friday 31st January 2025 with speeches by Artistic Director Elyse Tonna, Gozo Region President Dr Samuel Azzopardi, Minister for Gozo and Planning Hon. Clint Camilleri and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Hon. Alison Zerafa Civelli. The event was held at the Cittadella Cultural Centre and consisted of stories about Gozo, narrated through music, poetry and prose.
Speaking at the event, Gozo President Dr Samuel Azzopardi commented “Gozo’s Region of Culture is a chance to showcase the island’s exceptional talent while creating opportunities for emerging artists and grassroots initiatives to thrive. While our island’s geography keeps us close, it is our culture that truly brings us together. This year marks a promising step forward for Gozo’s creative landscape, especially as its capital, Victoria, competes for the title of European Capital of Culture 2031.”
The cultural programme featured a diverse range of events catering to different interests and age groups, each with a unique cultural or local twist.
The events of the Opening Weekend were:
Munxar: Honouring Ġużè Aquilina – Informative Discussions on Ġużè Aquilina, a Maltese author and linguist born in Munxar.
Qala: Tracing Beginnings – A public talk about Qala and its relation to the legends of San Kerrew at its birthplace, the Immaculate Conception Chapel in Qala where the Saint’s bones lie and can be seen.
Xewkija: Sculpting Imagination – An artistic workshop for 10-12 year olds.
Għasri: Narrating the Past – Poetry Reading in Gozo’s Smallest Basilica.
Għarb: A Hidden Heritage – A live demonstration of the village’s rich history through storytelling, showcasing of traditions, and dance.
Nadur: A Prelude to Carnival – honouring its longstanding Carnival tradition, Nadur hosted traditional music performances at Pupu’s Bar, renowned for its carnival celebrations. Here a ‘Spirtu Pront’ way of playing instruments was noted where throughout the night different locals joined in creating a spontaneous band.
Għajnsielem: Beyond the Lens – A photo exhibition of Għajnsielem through time taking place at the Marine Educational Centre and Library found in the core of the locality.
Kerċem: Waterways of the Past – Two intimate tours of Għar Ilma and of the British-built canals that once transported water from Għar Ilma to the iconic Gozo aqueduct.
Ta’ Sannat: Stories of Pjazza tax-Xelina – Discussion and conversation on the extensive History of Pjazza tax-Xelina and its involvement in Sannat and Gozitan history.
Xagħra: Foundations of a Community – Re-enactment linked to the locality’s History and the founding of the parish in 1688.
Żebbuġ: The Tradition of Għażżiela – A hands-on demonstration of the creation of the Traditional Għażżiela
San Lawrenz: Uncovering its Punic Past – A village linked with its Punic history, the Local Council made available to the public a recently discovered underground Punic temple.
Fontana: Life at the Washhouse – A live demonstration showcased the traditional wool-washing process at the iconic Għajn tal-Ħasselin, here Joseph Bezzina also read from his book written about and for this locality.
More information on the organised events is accessible at regjunghawdex.com/culture
Tinfetaħ uffiċjalment is-Sena tar-Reġjun tal-Kultura – Għawdex 2025
Ir-Reġjun ta’ Għawdex huwa kburi li qed jiġi rikonoxxut bħala r-Reġjun tal-Kultura għall-2025. Din l-inizjattiva għandha l-għan li turi l-wirt kulturali uniku tar-reġjun, permezz ta’ programm ta’ sena ta’ avvenimenti u attivitajiet fil-komunità b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Kunsilli Lokali f’Għawdex, stakeholders, organizzazzjonijiet u artisti. Din l-inizjattiva hija ffinanzjata mid-Diviżjoni tal-Gvern Lokali fi ħdan is-Segretarjat Parlamentari għall-Gvern Lokali. Taħt id-direzzjoni artistika ta’ Elyse Tonna, il-programm għandu l-għan li jikxef narrattivi moħbija jew injorati filwaqt li jsaħħaħ il-komunitajiet lokali permezz ta’ sensiela ta’ avvenimenti intimi u sinifikanti.
It-tema artistika, Common Ground, tenfasizza l-karattru distint ta’ Għawdex, iffurmat mill-pajsaġġ komuni tiegħu u impenn lejn l-għaqda, l-inklussività, u l-esperjenzi kollettivi. Minflok avvenimenti fuq skala kbira, joffri stedina għal sena biex tagħti ħarsa aktar mill-qrib—joħloq opportunitajiet għall-kollaborazzjoni, jinkoraġġixxi djalogu, u jamplifika l-vuċijiet lokali.
Il-programm multidixxiplinarju tar-Reġjun tal-Kultura se jiċċelebra l-identità kulturali ta’ Għawdex permess, li jgħaqqad prattiċi tradizzjonali u kontemporanji madwar żfin, mużika, teatru, arti viżiva, ċinema, letteratura, arkitettura u gastronomija. Fil-qalba tagħha, tfittex li tagħti s-setgħa lil talent emerġenti, tinkoraġġixxi l-kollaborazzjoni bejn il-kunsilli lokali, prattikanti kreattivi, negozji, u organizzazzjonijiet tal-bażi, u toħloq esperjenzi kulturali inklużivi li jinvolvu kemm udjenzi lokali kif ukoll internazzjonali.
L-attivitajiet tal-Ftuħ
Minflok ċelebrazzjoni ċentrali, it-tim Artistiku ħadem ma’ kull Kunsill Lokali biex jiżviluppa inizjattivi li saru madwar il-lokalitajiet ta’ Għawdex, u ffurmaw ċelebrazzjoni kulturali kollettiva fi tmiem il-ġimgħa li tat il-ħajja lil spazji u komunitajiet differenti. Dan serva bħala stedina miftuħa għall-pubbliku sabiex jipparteċipa. Kull attività enfasizzat aspett sinifikanti tal-lokalità, u kif ukoll esponiet postijiet, tradizzjonijiet u forom tal-arti distinti. Billi ffukajna fuq interventi ta’ skala żgħira, iżda ta’ impatt, it-tnedija saħħet l-impenn tar-Reġjun għall-innovazzjoni, il-kollaborazzjoni mal-komunitajiet. Il-programm fetaħ b’attività nhar il-Ġimgħa 31 ta’ Jannar 2025 b’diskorsi mid-Direttur Artistiku Elyse Tonna, il-President tar-Reġjun ta’ Għawdex Dr Samuel Azzopardi, il-Ministru għal Għawdex u l-Ippjanar l-Onor. Clint Camilleri u s-Segretarju Parlamentari għall-Gvern Lokali l-Onor. Alison Zerafa Civelli. L-attività saret fiċ-Ċentru Kulturali taċ-Ċittadella u kienet mżewqa b’mużika bil-vjolin, poeżiji u proża.
F’dan l-avveniment, il-President ta’ Għawdex Dr Samuel Azzopardi ikkummenta “Is-Sena ta’ Reġjun tal-Kultura t’Għawdex huwa ċans biex nuru t-talent eċċezzjonali ta’ ġżiritna filwaqt li noħolqu opportunitajiet biex nesponu artisti emerġenti u inizjattivi. Filwaqt li l-ġeografija ta’ gżiritna żżommna qrib xulxin, hija l-kultura tagħna li tassew tgħaqqadna flimkien. Din is-sena timmarka pass promettenti ‘l quddiem għall-pajsaġġ kreattiv ta’ Għawdex, speċjalment peress li l-kapitali tagħha, ir-Rabat, tikkompeti għat-titlu ta’ Kapitali Ewropea tal-Kultura 2031.”
“Is-Sena ta’ Reġjun tal-Kultura t’Għawdex huwa ċans biex nuru t-talent eċċezzjonali ta’ ġżiritna filwaqt li noħolqu opportunitajiet biex nesponu artisti emerġenti u inizjattivi. Filwaqt li l-ġeografija ta’ gżiritna żżommna qrib xulxin, hija l-kultura tagħna li tassew tgħaqqadna flimkien. Din is-sena timmarka pass promettenti ‘l quddiem għall-pajsaġġ kreattiv ta’ Għawdex, speċjalment peress li l-kapitali tagħha, ir-Rabat, tikkompeti għat-titlu ta’ Kapitali Ewropea tal-Kultura 2031.” – Dr Samuel Azzopardi, President, Reġjun Għawdex
