For many years, MCCF held an art auction in aid of the annual fundraiser Strina, with artworks donated by various artists. While many of these works were of high quality, others were of questionable standards. The auction system was eventually scrapped in favour of a curated exhibition, featuring a theme proposed by the curator and agreed upon by the arts committee.
Under this new system, the curator has the freedom to invite artists to participate by donating their works, with the option for artists to retain 25% of the selling price while MCCF retains 75%. Additionally, a public call for participation is issued, allowing all artists to submit their works for consideration. The selling price is set by the artist and remains fixed. This revised format has been well received by the artistic community, as it lends the exhibition and the participating works greater prestige and recognition.
This year’s exhibition will be the fourth in this format. The first, But I See Beauty, and the second, Sculptura, were held at Antoine de Paule Hall at San Anton Palace. Both were successful, generating substantial funds through artwork sales and sponsorships. While the venue was prestigious and offered a beautiful setting, public access was limited due to security restrictions at the palace. These exhibitions were ably curated by committee member Melanie Erixon and accompanied by a professionally designed exhibition catalogue.
Last year’s exhibition was successfully held at the newly restored Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta at L’Orangerie Hall. It was curated by Roderick Camilleri, an artist and professional curator, and was called Dokra. The setting of the exhibition was excellent, although the general public was restricted to viewing the exhibition after The Palace closed for paying visitors, restricting the time to between 5pm and 7 pm.
This year’s exhibition, the fourth in the series, will again be curated by Melanie Erixon and will be called Landscapes, Seascapes and Imaginary-[e]scapes. It is planned to be held a few weeks before Easter and will once again be at The Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta. However, to resolve the issue of limited opening hours, the exhibition will be held at the former Armoury Hall, which has a separate entrance from Merchant Street. MCCF’s own volunteers will oversee the exhibition, and I extend my sincere gratitude to them for their dedication. Likewise, my heartfelt thanks go to the artists who generously contribute their works, the sponsors, and the Art4MCCF committee for their commitment to this event.
As seen in previous exhibition catalogues, participation typically includes around 35 to 40 artists, and a similar turnout is expected this year.
Lawrence Pavia
Chairman, Art4Mccf Organising Committee
This exhibition invites viewers on a visual journey through the physical, emotional, and imagined landscapes that shape our perceptions of the world. Featuring a dynamic mix of media, the works on display explore the interplay between nature, memory, and imagination. From sweeping vistas of land and sea to surreal dreamscapes conjured from the depths of the artists’ minds, the exhibition redefines traditional notions of landscape art.
The featured works highlight how landscapes are more than mere scenery; they are spaces where stories unfold, histories are embedded, and emotions resonate. Seascapes evoke the rhythm and power of the ocean, a timeless force that inspires awe and contemplation.
Meanwhile, imaginary-[e]scapes transport us to realms beyond reality, where boundaries dissolve, and creativity reigns. Each piece invites reflection on our relationship with the environment, both as observers and participants. Some works challenge us to see the natural world anew, while others delve into personal and collective imaginings, offering glimpses of utopias or unsettling dystopias.
Through the dialogue between the real and the imagined, Landscapes, Seascapes, and Imaginary-[e]scapes offers a thought-provoking exploration of how we navigate and reinterpret the spaces around us, inspiring viewers to envision new possibilities for the worlds within and beyond.
Melanie Erixon
Curator, Art4Mccf 2025
Melanie Erixon holds a BA (Hons) in History of Art (Malta) and read for an MA in Museum & Heritage Management (Newcastle). She also attended various courses in curation at the Sotheby’s Art Institute.
Erixon was part of the Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale team for two editions of the Biennale, under the artistic direction of Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci.
She produced and presented two radio show series on Campus FM, one about the Mdina Biennale, Culture Vulture and Savoir Faire which tackled the subject of Design.
Her first experiences with exhibition curation were at STUDIO 104 (today DESKO), in Valletta, where she cocurated various exhibitions as part of her internship, with Michelle Morrissey.
From 2015 to 2018, Erixon was the coordinator of the Strada Stretta Concept – a project under the auspices of the Valletta 2018 Foundation – where she oversaw around 90 cultural events throughout the years, including operas, fashion shows, concerts, poetry evenings, lectures, art exhibitions, theatre, and other cultural events.
Erixon is the founder of the online gallery Art Sweven, which also provides a curation service. She is currently the resident curator at il-Kamra ta’ Fuq, in Mqabba, where art exhibitions are hosted monthly. She has curated several exhibitions at various locations in Malta and has also curated a group exhibition in Noto, Sicily. Erixon has been part of the art4mccf committee for the last three years and she writes exhibition reviews for local newspapers.
Melanie is extremely passionate about art and is also an avid collector of contemporary Maltese art.