Culture Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea has acknowledged that his recent controversial comments about artists may have come across as insensitive, saying he “could have used better words.”
He made his comments to Malta Daily after a recording of his controversial remarks was leaked to Times of Malta, sparking a furious reaction from artists.
Agius Galea could be heard in the recording describing his first four months in office as “traumatic”, questioning artists’ reliance on public funding and warning that creative ideas could negatively influence audiences.
The minister insisted that creativity must adhere to certain “norms”, telling an audience at the Festival of Ideas that artists must recognise the difference between right and wrong.
The comments sparked a furore within the culture sector, with lobby groups demanding his resignation and thousands signing a petition calling for that.
On Wednesday, the minister said his remarks were made in a closed environment with a number of ‘policy thinkers’, to provoke thought and come up with new ideas.
“Maybe I came across as being insensitive and maybe my remarks hurt the feelings of artists who work with their heart in this sector, as well as others whose livelihood depends on it,” he said. “Maybe I could have used better words.”
When asked if he intended to resign, Agius Galea said he intended to shoulder responsibility “by working harder in the interests of all the people in the culture sector.”
“I’ll put my head down, roll up my sleeves and react with harder work for this sector. It encompasses many people and I’ll be working for everyone,” he said.
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