BejtaArtisan

Abi and Emma, owners and co-conspirators of Bejta Artisan, first met at the school gates of the local primary school which their children attended. They quickly realised that they shared a passion for art and all things creative. In October 2014 they were offered the opportunity to take over a small established gallery. With a start up budget of €75 and a months rent in hand they took a giant leap of faith and opened the Gallery doors. Being a friendly and welcoming place, it quickly developed it’s own community of regular visitors . Never did they imagine that nearly six years later, despite alarms, excursions and pandemics, their micro business would still be running, and be the success it is today. Over the years their philosophy hasn’t changed. The gallery must be self supporting, house arts and crafts made exclusively in Gozo, be ecologically mindful and only exhibit and produce work that is affordable. In common with many small businesses, Covid 19 has put the Gallery through its most difficult period to date, but thanks to the ongoing help of their loyal supporters and clients they have manage, so far, to scrape through. During lockdown they realised that they needed to take their gallery into the digital world, so that if the worse should ever happen again and the Gallery doors needed to temporarily close, the business could continue to work. In the current climate it is more important than ever to support local micro businesses and artisans, as they make their businesses work with only tiny profit margins and are extra vulnerable in times of crisis. Sadly, in this year alone, several Gozo artist have closed their gallery doors permanently. However, Bejta Artisan is still here and now branching out into the digital world!