While Russian-Maltese diplomatic and cultural exchanges have existed for centuries, it was only 30 years ago that the Russian Cultural Centre opened on November 8, 1990, in Valletta. Maltese newspapers reported this event as an “important step” in the building of a “common European home”.
Russian emigrée Princess Nathalie Poutiatine was instrumental in the popularisation of ballet in Malta. Photo: Courtesy of Tanya Bayona
The first Russian cultural festival in Malta, held in November 1990, created a sensation among local arts and music lovers. The original works of Russian masters Malevich, Kandinsky, Petrov-Vodkin and other paintings from the State Russian Museum collection were brought to Malta along with rare books and archive documents.