There's no use repeating what we already know.The entertainment sector in Malta has once again been tossed aside and we are left frozen in a state of uncertainty.
Nevertheless, to recap:
Recent guidelines by the government have failed to mention any indication as to whether events, venues and arts education can or cannot take place, threatening the livelihood of everyone that works in the entertainment sector. The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) was created to represent people working from all sectors in the arts, be it creatives, educators, producers, venue-organizers, technicians; the list goes on. This association has been the united voice that has consistently spoken up about the issues we all face while working in the industry. After a lack of communication from the government anticipating recent announcement of measures, members are outraged, with a great amount of reason. Thankfully, MEIA is working towards creating a better communication plan between the association and authorities. Among all this, performing arts schools are closed, leaving students unable to further their studies and complete their examinations.
In short, we feel invisible.
Marelaine Formosa, a Communication Studies & Theatre Studies student at the University of Malta, has been one of many to frequently use her voice, recently posting, "When we see any sort of success, we praise it, because we only care about money. [...] This world is not easy for anyone, but artists seem to not have a world to belong in anymore at this point in time. Why make it worse? We only see passivity. I'm fed up."
Constantly fighting for your career is a battle that anyone who works in the entertainment industry knows too well. We are a resilient industry, surviving through the worst situations, but we are exhausted. I could go on and on about how arts schools and venues have been following strict protocols since day one, how the entertainment industry contributes to the economy, how our sectors have so much potential and it would be discovered, if we could elevate local talent while it's still local.
However, I think it is important to speak about us, as the members who are currently going through this uncertainty together. Check in with each other, and vent our very well justified anger and frustration. Believe it or not, we are allowed to feel discouraged, unmotivated, and passionless. I mean, look at the situation we're in - we have every reason to feel deflated. Some might outright reject this and urge for creators to create, but it all feels pointless when there is no certain future in sight.
Personally, I am struggling to keep up with the work I used to look forward to - I'm sure there are people who feel the same - and honestly, I am constantly switching between planning future projects (very often proving pointless), playing the activist and wanting my voice as a creative and theatre student to be heard, and taking a step back from everything just to take a breather. After yet another production postponed, I find myself holding on to the energy that drives me to create. I realised that, for me, holding on to hope is the one thing that is keeping my head above water.
When all this blows over... (fingers crossed)
What keeps me going, as a creative and theatre student, is thinking of the buzz of leaving the rehearsal space after three/four hours or coming off the stage right after curtain call. The relief and immediate post-show blues after your final show. The drive we had in the rehearsal room is the same one that keeps us going. Remember that and hold on to it; those memories, while bittersweet, will serve you till you're ready to make new ones.
From one barely functioning human to another, take as much time as you need to recharge, and when you're ready, give them hell.