The Malta Society of Arts has been a long-standing champion for qualitative Maltese art for more than a century and a half. Through the years, it has recognised and supported some of Malta's greatest artists and this November, Prof. Joseph Paul Cassar will become the 70^th nominee to receive the Gold Medal Award for his outstanding contributions to art, joining an elite list of recipients such as Sir Temi Zammit (1904), Richard England (1984) and Joseph Calleja (2007).

For those not familiar with the local art scene, Prof. Joseph Paul Cassar's scholarly pursuits focus on the pioneers of modern art in Malta. He is also a practising artist, with his work involving abstract expressions through various media and techniques. The variety of methods he employs are used to explore the relationships of forms and colour and bringing fragmented shapes together in a coherent whole.

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Additionally, Prof. Cassar has not only graced local lecture halls at Junior College and in various faculties within the University of Malta, but is also a lecturer in the United States at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, Johns Hopkins University, Towson University and Notre Dame University of Maryland, in Baltimore.

The art veteran is set to receive this honour in an award ceremony presided by H. E. The President of Malta George Vella, Mrs Vella and MSA president Mr Adrian Mamo on 28th November at Palazzo de la Salle, Valletta. Although the ceremony is a private one, you can catch glimpses of his work (and possibly the man himself) at the Mdina Biennale.