The Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS) was awarded one of the Maltese public service’s highest of awards for having delivered Malta’s newest cultural destination and an ambitious artistic programme.

MICAS executive chairperson Phyllis Muscat, who led the project from conception to its grand opening last year, collected the Project of the Year Award at the Public Service Awards, which recognise public officials who distinguished themselves in their duties throughout 2024 were recognised and awarded.

“We are honoured with this recognition, and my heartfelt gratitude goes to the team at MICAS, the board and its committees, our staff, all our collaborators who assisted us throughout the build, as well as our supporters and friends in the community of visual arts,” Muscat said.

Phyllis Muscat headed the original capital projects committee that conceived the MICAS project, and has led the board of directors from 2018 onwards to host annual MICAS Art Weekends with international artists, the commissioning of sculptures that will be housed at a landscaped garden at MICAS, and ultimately the completion of the €30 million contemporary arts museum in Floriana.

MICAS opened its doors in October 2024, positioning Malta as a proactive player in the international contemporary art world, to raise public awareness of the value of visual arts in contemporary life and show how art and artists contribute to interpreting the world we live in. The MICAS project included the restoration of historic fortifications in Floriana and the former Ospizio complex, once used as a gunpowder magazine during the time of the Knights.

The Public Service Awards ceremony, coinciding with the upcoming United Nations Public Service Day, was held under the patronage of the President of the Republic, Dr Myriam Spiteri Debono.

Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana, who heads Malta’s public administration, said the vast majority of public service employees face real challenges in their daily work and play an important role in many areas of society.

“I urge public officials to always be proud of their work, because they are not just doing a job – they are making a difference in people’s daily lives. It is hard to imagine our country without public service employees.”