A commemorative ceremony was held recently at Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre for Arts and Crafts, commemorating the 20 years since the opening of school, as well as thirty years since the death of Wistin Camilleri whom the school is named after.

During this ceremony, the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, inaugurated a monument in honor of Wistin Camilleri, which was blessed by HE Mgr. Mario Grech, the Bishop of Gozo.

The monument was constructed and given to the school, by the sculptor Kav. Alfred Camilleri Cauchi, who is son of the artist Wistin Camilleri, while the pedestal of the monument was constructed by Manuel Saliba and designed by Camilleri Cauchi. The monument was constructed under the supervision of Josef Camilleri, who is the nephew of Wistin Camilleri.

Those present for the inauguration were able to visit the new part of the school which was built through a project co-financed by European funds. They were able to follow what was going on in various workshops in order to get an idea of the type of topics that were being taught.

An exhibition of works was also inaugurated that have been produced by participants who attend courses at the school. The occasion was concluded by the launching of a mobile theatre that was commissioned by the Gozo College and worked on by teachers at the centre, the theatre will enable them to put on puppet shows for students at schools around Gozo.

The Minister for Gozo said that the centre contributes to sustainable development in relation to lifelong learning. In particular the teaching and training of human resources, which gives a great deal of assistance to those seeking work.

The building extension in the centre was undertaken through an investment of around € 870,000 from the European Regional Development Fund under the Programme of Structural Funds for Malta 2004 – 2006 and also included the construction of a Crafts Incubation Centre.

1250 students are attending classes in several courses during this year. The courses include that of art for disabled persons as well as other extra curricular lstudies that have been provided for students from secondary schools, as well as training sessions for those seeking work, which are held in collaboration with the ETC Gozo.