Heritage Malta defends language museum project

Heritage Malta's language museum in Vittoriosa is not intended to be another dead museum but one alive and buzzing with activity.

HM's decision to set up a language museum at the Auberge de France, in Vittoriosa has been criticised by a number of organisations and it was pointed out that the place would be more suitable for a costume museum.

In an interview, HM chief executive officer Antoinette Caruana, curator Kenneth Gambin and the personal assistant to chairman Cecilia Xuereb said HM felt very strongly that cultural heritage went beyond what one was normally used to.

"There is a lot of intangible heritage, such as the language, which gives the people their identity," Ms Caruana said.

Language was part of the local cultural heritage which needed to be emphasised, more so now that Maltese was an official EU language. The fact that a language museum was being set up did not mean that the language had died.

The best way to emphasise the importance of language was through a museum which would reflect the social development of Maltese.

Visitors would see how Malta and Maltese society developed through its language. The museum would not be just about books and papers but would also have artefacts, tools and dioramas, for example.

The different artefacts, costumes and even Maltese food would reflect the differences between the Maltese of the port and those of the countryside. They would reflect the Maltese used in journalism, in politics and by emigrants. Language, after all, reflected life.

Mr Gambin said that a commission of experts had been set up, including representatives of institutions such as the National Library and other libraries and archives, as well as language professors, to give input on the museum's content.

Although the museum would not be just for tourists, visitors to the country would be able to understand Malta through its language history. And it was important that such a museum was developed in a port area as this was where the language had developed.

Mr Gambin said that people from countries all over the Mediterranean used to meet in the port. Had this not been the case, the language would have remained static and died. The mingling of people allowed the language to develop and remain relevant. The museum would show how language affected society throughout the years.

The museum would be available for associations connected to the language, for book launches and for language and literary meetings. It would also be flexible enough to allow for a permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions and other events.

The museum should also attract more visitors to Vittoriosa. Many, but not enough, were already visiting the Inquisitor's Palace and the Maritime Museum.

The three places together would help generate business for the area. Part of the policy of Heritage Malta was to give the three cities importance.

Ms Caruana said that the museum was scheduled to open in about three years.

HM's problem, she explained, was one of resources, both human and financial. APS Bank was giving it loans at preferential rates but the Auberge de France was only one of 30 sites under its care, all of which required capital.

HM was trying to change the concept of museums overall, for visitors to not just go and see what there was and leave but to interact and feel part of the place.

The Museums Department was made responsible for the Auberge de France in 1979. Between 1981 and 1987 it was a political museum but no one ever visited. It was not advertised and it was too biased.

It closed in 1987 and remained closed until the mid-1990s when structural works were carried out by the department and the Cottonera Rehabilitation Project.

In 2001 the Vittoriosa council requested, and was given, permission to use it as a secondary office. Late last year, Heritage Malta approached the council with its intention of transforming the place into a museum and the council moved its secondary office to the Auberge d'Angleterre.

The language museum project was launched in January.