MEIA’s upcoming Culture At Work unconference will open with a keynote by Jonathan Mizzi, Director of Mizzi Studio, who is set to deliver a provocative talk exploring the deep connection between culture, creativity, and the natural world. The talk, titled We Forgot We Are Nature, will take place on 19 November at MICAS as part of the event’s opening programme.

Mizzi’s keynote will invite attendees to reconsider how cultural expression is shaped by the environments we inhabit—physically, socially, and ecologically. Through the lens of creativity and design, he will explore Malta as a “living microcosm”: a place where rapid development, shifting landscapes and a fast-paced economic rhythm have created a growing gap between communities and the natural world that once grounded them.

The talk will take audiences on a conceptual journey “from stars to soil”, examining how the pursuit of progress has contributed to collective disconnection — and how reorienting culture around balance, belonging, and environmental awareness can help communities grow with a renewed sense of centre. Mizzi is expected to argue that reconnecting with nature is not a nostalgic desire to return to the past but a forward-looking framework for building a regenerative cultural ecosystem.

This opening event sets the tone for Culture At Work, a three-day unconference organised by MEIA to spark critical dialogue on the role and responsibilities of culture in society. It departs from the traditional conference model in favour of a more participatory, collaborative structure — designed for open discussion, shared learning, and meaningful cross-sector exchange.

Held across multiple locations, the unconference will explore a wide spectrum of themes affecting Malta’s creative communities, including fair practices in the arts, cultural advocacy, the impact of technology, wellbeing in cultural work, the creative economy, and the value chains that sustain it. Sessions are built to foster crossover thinking, allowing artists, educators, cultural workers, policymakers, organisers, and community builders to explore shared challenges from different perspectives.

International and local speakers will contribute insights based on experience and practice, while attendees will be encouraged to participate directly in discussions and collaborative sessions. The goal, MEIA states, is not only dialogue but action — identifying ways to strengthen cultural infrastructure, create fairer conditions for creative work, and build greater capacity across the sector.

By opening Culture At Work with Mizzi’s exploration of nature, creativity and belonging, the unconference positions itself around a central question: how can cultural work adapt, evolve, and contribute to a more balanced, regenerative future?

Registration remains open, with events scheduled between 19–21 November.