The University Gozo Campus in collaboration with the International Organisation of Needle and Bobbin Lace (OIDFA) (Malta) and Koperattiva Għawdxija tal-Bizzilla u Artiġjanat, organised the annual event “Gozo Lace Day”. The event was held on Sunday 14 April 2024 at the University Gozo Campus and consisted of a number of exhibitions and demonstrations of Gozo lace and talks on matters related to lace-making. This year’s event marked the 100th anniversary from the death of Dun Giuseppe Diacono, an important promoter of Maltese lace in Gozo.
Present for the event were Prof. Philip von Brockdorff, Rector’s Delegate for Gozo and Dr Consiglia Azzopardi.
In his introductory speech Professor von Brockdorrf welcomed those preset and gave a brief description of the courses being offered at the campus including those in lace-making. The courses related to lace-making are being offered by the Centre for Liberal Arts and Sciences of the University of Malta and it is planned that such courses continue to be offered in the future.
Dr Consiglia Azzopardi delivered an interesting lecture on the life of Giuseppe Diacono and his legacy of lace works and designs. Her presentation also included an interview with the last surviving lace maker who had been a student in Diacono’s school. Dr Azzopardi thanked the staff at the Gozo Campus for their assistance in the offering of courses and the organisation of similar events. The talk was concluded by local musician Spiru Sillato who entertained the audience with some Maltese folk music or ħԲ.
Numerous lace makers and friends attended the event which also included exhibitions of contemporary lace master-pieces and textile crafts. There were a number of stands mounted by OIDFA (Malta), the Koperattiva Għawdxija tal-Bizzilla u Artiġjanat and by the Centre for Liberal Arts and Sciences students.
