Enter Bettija’rt – Delicata’s Art Contest

The Delicata winery has just launched Malta’s first barrel art contest christened Bettija’rt | wine.art.living with €1000 in prize money and other rewards to be earned. The inaugural edition is organised in association with Is-Suq Tal-Belt Valletta Food Market.

Malta’s foremost winemaker is calling for painters and other visual artists to direct their creativity and artistic skills towards the transformation of a decommissioned barrique (a wine barrel or bettija in Maltese) into a stunning work of art (a so-called bettija’rt).

The inspiration and theme each original art piece has to reflect is “the joy of wine, art and good living in Malta today and through the ages”.

The official call for Delicata’s 2019 Bettija’rt | wine.art.living competition is now open and artists can express their interest until 14 December 2018. The oak barrels will be supplied by the winery to the chosen artists.

Like wine, art is a living thing. Art is only different in that it can be made from anything as well as be about anything. Delicata’s barrel art contest exemplifies this and shows that making art and its appreciation has become an exciting exploration of new media and ways of creating and presenting.

When announcing the contest, winery director Mr Mario Delicata said: “We realise that Delicata’s Bettija’rt art venture is but a modest effort to make the wonderful works of our talent in Malta more visible. Yet, we hope that artists feel inspired and will lend a hand in helping us with bringing the local arts, our best wines of Malta and their enjoyment into everyone’s daily life”.

The iconic Victorian-era venue of Is-Suq Tal-Belt Valletta Food Market, located in the heart of the nation’s capital, will be the social hub and take centre stage in the showcasing of the collective art exhibition of all finished works next spring.

“We are proud to host this exhibition at is-Suq tal-Belt, a space which combines perfectly gastronomy, culture and the good life. This event also ties in with our philosophy of is-Suq becoming a venue for artistic initiatives,” said Maria Micallef CEO of Arkadia Marketing Ltd., part of the Mizzi Organisation.

In addition to the cash prizes, rewards and gifts for the contributors to Delicata’s 2019 Bettija’rt | wine.art.living contest, participating artists will also receive coverage in traditional and social media. The winery’s art contest is decided by public and jury vote.

Established as well as upcoming artists residing in Malta aged 18 and over can express their interest in Delicata’s 2019 Bettija’rt | wine.art.living contest via the online form on the winery’s website www.delicata.com.

This article by Georges Meekers was first published in the Times of Malta on 23/11/18.