Ħolqa has established itself as a regular on the Maltese cultural calendar. Previously known for its focus on theatre and performance, the annual youth Festival organised by Ġ.F. Abela Junior College has extended its branches to all spheres of visual and performing arts, becoming an International Youth Arts Festival.

The Festival is going to be held between 25 and 29 March 2019 in various spaces around the College. The opening is on 25 March at 14:00 in the Junior College Auditorium. On 28 March, Venue18 at Junior College in collaboration with Inizjamed will hold an open mic session for all. 

In its sixth edition, the Festival, offers various opportunities to youths who work in the local visual arts and performative arts scene to showcase their talents and exchange various experiences with youths from different countries. This year’s theme is diversability, which sees a collaboration between participants from local foreign schools, alongside entities that work with clients with various abilities to create a dialogue through art.

Along with performances by foreign participants from Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria and France, the programme will showcase the talent of the Junior College Orchestra, band, dance group, visual arts group and Teatru Kulleġġ. In its aim to promote local talent, and in view of this year’s theme, the Festival will include participants from MCAST, Gozo’s Sir Michelangelo Sixth Form together with Spero, Aġenzija Sapport, Opening Doors and Maria Gauci. During the week of activities, the Festival goers will have the opportunity to experience different theatrical styles, music concerts, dance shows, visual arts exhibition, documentaries and films, structured discussions, interviews and workshops. 

This year Ħolqa is working closely with Opening Doors to put up a Festival that celebrates diversity in all its forms. Ħolqa would like to thank Aldo Cauchi Savona, Sandra Mifsud, Mary-Ann Cauchi u Arts Council Malta, Alka Ceramics and Inizjamed. Ħolqa is made possible thanks to help of  Premju tal-President għall-Kreattività, Buzzer Stationers and HSBC.

Programme

More information is available on Facebook. For further details call on +356  2590 7202.