ABOUT BLITZ VALLETTA

Blitz was founded in 2013 as a grassroots, artist-run contemporary arts space, and it is housed in a four-level, typical Valletta townhouse, which was originally the family home of founder and artist-curator Alexandra Pace’s grandparents. After standing empty for over 30 years, the building slowly started returning to life through a dedicated and steady restoration process. Blitz rapidly become a reference for contemporary art in Malta, as each of its floors shines in its full former glory where it has acted as a public space, while also being the private residence of its founder.

Since its inception, Blitz has formed an identity and a presence that has extended beyond the island to the international art world, through prominent collaborations with institutions such as Royal College of Arts (London), Central Saint Martins University of the Arts (London), the European Graduate School (EGS) and the annual Network of European Museum Organizations conference (NEMO). In 2015 Blitz launched the Residency Programme which invited artists from Berlin, London, Wroclaw, Athens, Kuwait, Paris and Istanbul to participate via open calls with more than 200 applicants. Also, Blitz has received important mentions by ArtBasel Crowdfunding initiative (2015), and Tate Art Exchange Programme (2016).

Blitz’s international programme reflected the institution’s commitment to support and showcase Malta- based artists abroad, in high profile international platforms dedicated to non-profit art spaces. Simultaneously, its exhibition and public programmes at home focused on introducing the Maltese community to the practice of established international artists.

Between 2020 and 2022, Blitz expanded its activities to operate in three spaces equally relevant to its community – online with the platform OPEN, in the physical galleries and in the city of Valletta. Integrating these three spaces, Blitz explored the possibilities to reinvent the notion of a shared, public space for collective thinking. Blitz has also co-produced the international commission The Journey by artist Rossella Biscotti together with KunstenFestivalDesArts Brussels and Dream City Festival in Tunis.

Blitz’s activities have been featured in some of the most relevant international media – Artforum, Folha de S.Paulo, Flash Art International, Mousse Magazine, Weltkunst, Sole 24 ORE, Artribune and Abitare.

CONTACT

Blitz was made possible through the collective action, collaboration and support of numerous individuals and organisations outlined below:

Alexandra Pace
Founder + Artistic Director, 2012 – present

Sara Dolfi Agostini
Curator, 2019 – 2022

Nicole Bearman
Manager, Program & Events, 2014 – 2018

INTERNS & ASSISTANTS

Isaac Azzopardi
Giola Cassar
Keit Bonnici
Kurt Micallef
Leo Chirchop
Sephora Schembri
Matt Urpani
Martina Darmanin
Maria Falzon
Marie Hervé

Special thanks to
Martin Pace, Build Studio
Matthew Attard
Leo Chircop

EXHIBITED ARTISTS

Cory Arcangel
Pippin Barr
Aaron Bezzina
Rossella Biscotti
Ro Caminal
Kane Cali
Charlie Cauchi
John Coplans
Sara Cwynar
Jesse Darling
Simon Denny
Bonamy Devas
Simon Fujiwara
Romeo Roxman Gatt
Laila Hida
Andy Holden
Adelita Husni-Bey
Bettina Hutschek
Maurice Mbiyaki
Kosmas Nikolaou
Ahmet Ogut
Adrian Paci
Alexandra Pace
Pierre Portelli
Rob Pruitt
Fenêtre Project
Zvezdan Reljic
Anna Ridler
Kim Sammut
Marinella Senatore
Sarah Scicluna
Paul Sochacki
Amalia Ulman
Nico Vascellari
Serena Vestrucci
Tobias Zielony

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Ducks!
Libby Heaney
Claire Tolan
Nikolas Ventourakis
Harry Sanderson
Cihad Caner
Laetitia Badaut Haussman
Anna Ridler

ONLINE PROGRAM & RESIDENCY

David Claerbout
Jonathas De Andrade
Elena Mazzi / Sara Tirelli
Aernout Mik
Laure Provost
Pilvi Takala
Matthew Attard
Steph Foster
Chanee Choi

SUPPORTERS

Arts Council Malta
Valletta 2018 Foundation
Valletta Cultural Agency
Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, Malta
Embassy of Malta in France
British Council Malta
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
US Embassy Malta
Italian Cultural Institute (Valletta)
Build Studio
Ganado & Associates
Joinwell
Light Design Solutions
Derek Frost & Jeremy Norman
Joanna Delia
Richard Ambery
Carmen & Mihai Flucus
Corinthia Group of Companies
808 Foundation

COLLABORATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

Central St Martins University of the Arts London (UK)
TATE Art Exchange (UK)
Art Basel
European Graduate School (EGS)
Valentino Architects
aditus foundation
University of Malta (UoM)
ZfinMalta
Teatru Malta
Kinemastik
Resartis
Culture Directorate
Valletta Design Cluster
MUZA
Spazju Kreattiv
Small Cinemas Conference
fablab valletta