The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA)has  announced the appointment of the new Chair and Co-Chair for its Arts Education Subcommittee.

This change follows Marisha Bonnici’s successful tenure as Chair.

Raphael Vella, a Professor at the University of Malta, has been appointed Chair. Joining him as Co-Chair is Isabelle Gatt, who brings decades of experience in theatre and education.

Prof. Vella teaches Art Education and Socially Engaged Art at the Faculty of Education, University of Malta. His research interests include socially engaged practices in contemporary art and issues of sustainability in art education.

He has also been active as an Artist since the 1980s and as a Curator since the early 2000s. In 2014, he conceived the Valletta International Visual Arts festival (VIVA) and directed the first two editions (2014, 2015). His artistic work has been shown in many exhibitions in different countries, including Italy, Malta, Germany, France, the UK, Argentina, the US, Canada, Japan and New Zealand. In 2017, he was selected as the co-curator of the Malta Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2017.

Prof. Gatt is an Associate Professor of Drama Education and Applied Theatre at the University of Malta. She brings over 30 years of experience as an educator, theatre-maker, and advocate for the arts in education and community settings.

She lectures nationally and internationally, across the full educational spectrum, from early childhood and primary to secondary, youth, and adult education. Her work focuses on applied theatre and creative pedagogy, particularly with schools, youth centres, rehabilitation programmes, and Active Aging Centres.

Prof. Gatt has also devised and directed theatre with and for young people, including as Founder of Teatru Qroqq Projects and as a Director for various editions of Teatru Malta’s Trikki Trakki youth festival.

“Their priorities include addressing key challenges within the sector, such as strengthening collaboration among stakeholders, enhancing the visibility and value of arts education, and promoting innovative approaches to teaching and learning,” read a statement from MEIA.

They are also committed to expanding opportunities for professional development, supporting creative exchange among educators and students, and cultivating inclusive learning environments that celebrate diverse cultural perspectives.