29 October 2024

LGBTI meeting - 1 November 2024


 Tyrone Grima ser imexxi sessjoni ta' Bibliodrama dwar l-istorja ta' David u Δ onatan.



09 October 2024

Notice of the Annual General Meeting

      ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Saturday 09 November 2024 at 17.00 (5.00pm)

Dar Manwel Magri (UM Chaplaincy)



Members are kindly notified that the Annual General Meeting of Drachma will be held on Saturday 09 November 2024 at Dar Manwel Magri (UM Chaplaincy) at 17.00 (5.00pm). 

In this General Meeting:
  • There will be presentations on the Annual Administrative and Financial Reports for the period 01 September 2023 till 31 August 2024.

  • There will be amendments to the Statute as requested by the VO authorities to bring it in line with the newest changes to the VO Law.

  • A new Steering Committee will be elected for the term 2024-2026. The Committee consists of 2 Coordinators and up to 5 additional Committee members from LGBTI+ and Parent members.

Members who are not yet paid up for this current membership year (1 Sept 2024 - 31 August 2025) are encouraged to renew their membership by making their annual payment of 10 Euro and filling in the membership form. Prospective members may also fill the membership application form and pay the membership fee to be able to attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting.

During the next few weeks, paid-up Members will be receiving the Reports and the proposed amendments to the Statute. Members will be also receiving a call for nominations for the election of the Steering Committee.

We thank you in advance for your interest in the work of Drachma.

24 September 2024

Drachma's Twentieth Anniversary Painting

 



Artist: Ellie Abela


The core of this painting is the concept of past, present and future. In particular, the past, present and future of not only Drachma, but the people of the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole. It predominantly uses colour, texture, saturation and spatial perspective to illustrate the transitions between these three time-frames.

The past is illustrated through the use of a monochrome palette, the feeling evoked by this section is bleak and oppressive. This is further aided through the jagged strokes and harsh textures present, as well as the overwhelming shadow surrounding the edge. Despite this, specks of colour are still present, showing that despite the oppression of such a discriminatory environment, we are still present. 

For the present, the spatial perspective is integral to get the message across. Rather than designating a specific colour or texture to represent the present, I decided to illustrate it as a point of transition. In this case, it could be called an open doorway leading to the hopeful future. In a literal sense, the present is where progress is felt and can occur. As is illustrated here, we can see that the light shining from the hope of the future is bleeding into the bleak past, showing that change can and will happen. 

The future is represented in light and colour, as well as a texture that evokes the feeling of celebration. 

The light in the centre alludes to Drachma’s focus on spirituality, and the main colours utilised in this sections are the two colours present in the Drachma logo.

28 August 2024

Activities in September 2024: Pride Month and Drachma's Anniversary: twenty years of journeying together


The first meeting after the summer break will be held on Friday 6 September at 7.30pm at Mount Saint Joseph. Given that in September Drachma will be celebrating its twentieth Anniversary, itis fitting that the first meeting will be dedicated to looking back at the story of Drachma. We are inviting a number of people who played an important role in Drachma's past journey, and we will hear from them the challenges, the difficulties and the joys of this twenty year journey. 

This meeting is open to LGBTIs, parents and family!


Pride is an annual event which the LGBT community celebrates enthusiastically. However, in the glimmer and glitz, at times we might forget what exactly we are proud of. 

Inspired by the theatrical practice of Augusto Boal, this workshop on Image Theatre will use body work to unpack and express what pride means to the local contemporary community. 

This two-hour workshop will be an enjoyable experience that does not require any former theatrical experience, and which will allow its participants to reflect in an interactive manner relevant and important questions about the reality of our community. Comfortable clothing is recommended for this activity. 

The event will be moderated by veteran theatre director and Performing Arts Lecturer Dr Tyrone Grima.



Drachma will be organising a celebratiuon marking Twenty Years from the first meeting held in September 2004 by the Christian LGBT group that eventually became Drachma.
The celebration will be held on Tuesday 17 September at 6.30pm at Mount Saint Joseph Retreat House, Mosta. Mass will be celebrated by H.G. Mgr. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta, followed by a reception.
If you wish to attend, kindly fill in the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/jX0mMSM5xi by not later than Saturday 14 September.
You may also wish to consider sending us a short message (as a video or written text) about Drachma and its legacy in the past twenty years. You may wish to comment on your connection to Drachma or what Drachma has meant for you and your family or your work. These messages will be posted on our social media and webpage. You can send this to admin@drachma.mt


Our next LGBTI meeting will be an Art workshop with artist Ellie Abela who will be helping us understand how to create an artistic concept and proceed with the creation of Art. Ellie will be using the artwork presented as a gift to the archbishop as the baseline.