The participants in China. Photo: Donald Camilleri

Seven Maltese art students were awarded top prizes in the annual China Cultural Centre Art Competition and Exhibition, which earned them a cultural exchange visit to Hangzhou, China.

The visit last month was funded by the China Cultural Centre in Malta and Zhejiang Art Museum in China.

The competition is coordinated each year by Dr Charmaine Zammit, Education Officer for Art & Design at the Ministry for Education in collaboration with the China Cultural Centre in Malta.

Since its inception, this initiative has acted as a bridge between cultures, encouraging students to explore connections and contrasts between Maltese and Chinese artistic traditions.

Beyond honouring the achievements of young artists, the event also recognises the crucial role of art educators.

Teachers guide and inspire their students, ensuring such projects transcend technique to nurture qualities such as emotional literacy, critical thinking, and creative resilience.

The students selected for the cultural exchange in China were Catriona Muscat, Malta Visual & Performing Arts (MVPA), Ħamrun – 1st prize, Middle School;    Alyssia Caruana Cachia, MVPA, Ħamrun – 2nd prize, Middle School;  Kaya Curmi, MVPA, Ħamrun – 3rd prize, Middle School; Anna Tkachuk, Maria Regina College (MRC), Mosta – 1st prize, Senior-Secondary School; Keith Nicole Natividad, MRC, Mosta – 2nd prize, Senior-Secondary School;  Justin Xia, St Edward’s College, Birgu – 2nd prize, Senior-Secondary School; Mikaela Borg, MVPA, Ħamrun – 3rd prize, Senior-Secondary School.

The display in China.

The 2025 competition theme ‘Nihao China… Exploring Zhejiang on a Maltese Luzzu’ invited students from Year 7 to Year 10 across state and non-state schools to embark on an imaginative journey of discovery.

Guided by their teachers, participants engaged in research, discussions, and creative experimentation, producing works that revealed both cultural awareness and artistic individuality.

Students considered questions such as: Where is Zhejiang? What makes it unique? How can its features be harmonised with the bold colours and distinctive shapes of the Maltese luzzu?

Their responses ranged from figurative to abstract, surreal to symbolic, playful to contemplative, employing diverse media including pencil, paint, digital art, and mixed techniques.

The winning works were exhibited alongside those of Chinese students at the Zhejiang Art Museum in Hangzhou under the joint theme ‘Voyage of Art’.

Chinese students responded to ‘Exploring Malta on a Zhejiang Boat’ creating a reciprocal artistic dialogue.

The Maltese delegation included art teacher Donald Camilleri, Charmaine Zammit, and Alice Micallef, Director for Early Years, Languages and Humanities of the Ministry for Education.

In her speech at the opening ceremony, Micallef remarked that “through this creative lens, students discover the natural beauty, history, and architecture of Zhejiang, comparing it with their own landscapes and traditions.”

Meanwhile, John Busuttil, Malta’s ambassador to China, noted that “the exhibition is more than a collection of beautiful art… it is a passport to a cross-continental adventure.”

Now in its 16th edition, the China Cultural Centre Art Competition and Exhibition stands as a testament to the power of art education to foster intercultural understanding, empathy, and creativity.

Artwork by Catriona Muscat