Culture minister promises to regain artists’ trust

'I recognise that there were aspects of my speech that I could have expressed better,' Malcolm Paul Agius Galea says in a lengthy Facebook post

14 November 2026, 2:12pm
by Matthew Farrugia

1 min read

Culture Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea has promised to regain artists’ trust after dominating headlines for a week over a number of controversial statements about artists.

Agius Galea was recorded while speaking to a crowd at the Festival of Ideas, where he told artists that art should exist within certain “norms,” as he described the few months he has been in office as “traumatic.”

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Agius Galea said he had a positive meeting with the President of the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA).

“I recognise that there were aspects of my speech that I could have expressed better,” he said, clarifying that his references to his medical profession weren’t intended to place one profession above another.

“I take responsibility for the feelings and reactions my words may have caused, and I will work to regain your trust.”

The culture minister said he genuinely cares about bringing change, insisting that he has the utmost respect for art. “Art has the freedom to challenge, provoke and stimulate discussion. When I spoke about norms, it was never my intention to suggest placing limitations on creativity or artistic freedom of expression.”

“Now, we must look ahead and let our actions speak for themselves.

A work plan has already been drawn up, which includes individual meetings with artists, visits to the spaces where they work, and direct discussions about their challenges and aspirations.”

Agius Galea said his door will always remain open to artists, and that he will work so the dialogue is used to bring about concrete measures that better the sector.

Matthew Farrugia is a journalist at MaltaToday He was the joint-winner (2025) as upcoming...

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