19 April 2007 Rating 20% No Comment  

Representatives from the Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre for Art and Crafts recently returned to Gozo after having participated in an International Lace Exhibition organised in Spain. Other participating countries included France, Italy, the United Kingdom, India and Canada. Gozitan lace was represented by a stand where various traditional and contemporary lace works, including those used in fashion wear, were displayed. In addition to these works were wooden lace bobbins and other items used in the production of Gozo lace. For the first time ever, all exhibited lace pieces carried the 'Made in Gozo' tags, launched by government last year, certifying the authenticity of the origin of these unique products. Some of these pieces included samples of designs being featured in the lace design courses offered at the Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre for Art and Craft under the European Social Fund and the Ministry for Gozo. Apart from lace works, reading matter in both Spanish and in English as well as the local almond biscuits, otherwise known as 'bankuncini', were available to all those visiting the stand. Many were impressed with the exhibited works with particular interest being shown to those lace pieces displaying the design of the Maltese cross. This initiative was supported by the Ministry for Gozo and the Malta Crafts Council. The Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre for Art and Crafts is presently undergoing extension works through an EU co-funded project that also includes the construction and setting up of a Crafts Incubation Centre to encourage more artisans to set up their own private businesses thus maximising their potential towards the benefit of the island's economy.