As the Housing Authority marked 50 years since its establishment on Sunday, 11 October, the anniversary celebrations continued with the official launch of five commemorative stamps in collaboration with MaltaPost.
These stamps feature five artworks selected from the exhibition Malta’s Urban and Social Spaces, which is currently being held at the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta. The exhibition brings together 34 artworks that, through different perspectives, explore the link between housing, communities and individuals, offering unique interpretations of our country’s urban and social spaces.
Through this initiative, these five artworks will go beyond the exhibition itself, reach a wider audience and become part of Malta’s postal history. In doing so, they will serve as a lasting reminder of the Housing Authority’s 50th anniversary, while continuing to convey the different meanings and perspectives expressed by the artists.
The Minister for Accommodation and Lands, Owen Bonnici, said that this initiative brings together culture, art and the history of housing in our country, while giving artists space to convey their interpretations of the urban and social environments we live in. He said that the 50th anniversary of the Housing Authority is also an opportunity to recognise the importance of housing in people’s lives and in building communities.
“Through these commemorative stamps, the artistic heritage linked to this exhibition will continue to be conveyed beyond the exhibition space and remain a reminder of this important anniversary,” concluded Minister Bonnici.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Authority, Matthew Zerafa, explained that although art and housing may seem like two different worlds, they both reflect the realities of people and the places where they live their lives. “We wanted this 50th anniversary to leave a lasting legacy. Through these commemorative stamps, five artworks will continue to live on beyond the exhibition and become part of our country’s postal history.”
A limited number of these commemorative stamps will be available from the Housing Authority’s offices in Triq il-Kapuċċini, Floriana. All donations collected will go to Puttinu Cares.
The exhibition will remain open to the public every day until Friday, 16 October, between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm, at the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta.