Arts Exhibition inaugurated at the Parliament of Malta in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza
In his opening address, Mgr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, referred to what he said was a huge honour for the Home during the 60th anniversary of its founding. On Republic Day, the Maltese Government State on Republic Day recognised the work done by the Home by conferring on it the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika. He stated that while receiving this National award from the President of Malta he got quite emotional and brought to mind many people starting with the founder of the Home, Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, his successor Mgr Lawrence Gatt, the Sisters of Charity, past and present administrators, so many employees and volunteers and last but not least the people of Malta and Gozo who have generously sustained the Home for sixty whole years.
He thanked the Speaker of the House of Representativesm Dr Anġlu Farrugia, who for the last nine years offered the Parliament building for the use of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. Over these years from the exhibitions and auctions that followed, the Home received a total of three humdred and fifty thousand, four hundred and two euro. Last year the revenue from the auction of reached a record sum of forty-two thousand euro. This year a 106 works of art donated by Maltese and foreign artist will be exhibited. Once again there is an exhibit by Tonio Mercieca, a mouth painter and one of the residents at the Home’s community home in Qawra. artist li jpenġi b’ħalqu u li jgħix fid-dar tal-Qawra, waħda mid-djar fil-komunità. Another two persons with disability are taking part in this year’s exhibition.
In his speech inaugurating the exhibition, the Speaker Dr Anġlu Farrugia said that this is not another date in the calendar but it is a pledge that will touch our hearts as a people.
He stated that this initiative has become a tradition that reflects the continued support of Parliament towards the common good and the support for persons who need it. He thanked the residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza as well as the employees and volunteers who work with such dedication to ensure that each person is given care and dignity. He also thanked Mgr Martin Micallef for his leadership and commitment.
Dr Farrugia insisted that Parliament will continue to support initiatives of solidarity and appealed for this generosity to keep forthcoming in the future.
The auction of these works of art will be held online on new year’s day during the Festa ta’ Ġenerożità telethon and will be in the hands of Belgravia Auctions. The exhibits will then be in the hall at id-Dar tal-Providenza when the auction will be taking place.
Mgr Micallef said that thanks to the full support of Maltese society, id-Dar tal-Providenza will remain committed in improving the quality of life of the residents and the services it offers as well as seeing that residents will enjoy inclusion and will participate even further in the life of our communities.
He ended by encouraging the people of Malta and Gozo to continue with its support on January 1st during Festa ta’ Ġenerożità which will again be taking place in the Home’s Siġġiewi car park as well as with the auction.
