Heritage Malta tapping new source of income

In keeping with its aim to generate funding that could be reinvested in the sites' upgrading Heritage Malta has started to rent out historical locations for private events and special functions.

The organisation has created a subsidiary company, Heritage Malta Services Ltd, which started operating in January.

Its aim is to generate money in two ways for the moment: through the management of museum retail outlets, which do not exist to date, and through the renting of certain heritage sites for special functions, including small receptions and concerts, product launches, corporate events, sit-down dinners and even weddings.

Weddings have been mostly confined to Vilhena Palace, in Mdina, also known as the Natural History Museum, which is the only appropriate site for such activities, according to Ray Cassar, Heritage Malta's business development manager.

Because of the delicate nature of the sites, not all of them lend themselves to any sort of function, he explained. Environmental, health and safety issues have to be taken into account and strict conditions and instructions adhered to. For example, no gas cylinders, no smoking and no naked flames are allowed on the premises. The sites may contain frescoes and precious artefacts, so they have to be treated with care, Mr Cassar said.

In its effort to raise funds for the upgrading of the sites, Heritage Malta is receiving support, understanding and cooperation from destination management companies (DMCs) which are looking for new and special venues for their events.

"We make sites available to the private sector, with which we are working to strike strategic alliances, and which promotes the venues and organises upmarket events," Mr Cassar said.

In so doing, they are promoting Malta's rich patrimony and culture overseas.

The specialised DMCs contact their clients and bring over important groups which are prepared to pay extra for the privilege of holding an event at certain sites.

"They are not rented to all and sundry and we are very selective of the events," he said.

Among the events being held in the exclusive venues is an "important society" wedding at the Vilhena Palace and adjacent Xara Palace Hotel, taking up a large chunk of the Silent City.

A one-off special event - a moonlit dinner for 50 businessmen - was also held within the precincts of Hagar Qim, using the temple as a backdrop. Many precautions were taken to respect the site and the event was a major success, Mr Cassar said.

Several dinners and receptions have already been organised at the Malta Maritime Museum, the Inquisitor's Palace and the grand salon at the National Museum of Archaeology, while other venues on offer include the Museum of Fine Arts. However, Heritage Malta could consider other special requests for sites.

Average costs for the exclusive venues - "whole palaces, with all the trimmings and staff on overtime" - range between Lm350 and Lm500, Mr Cassar said.

"In the six months that Heritage Malta Services Ltd has been in operation, it has registered a substantial figure, the response has been encouraging and the interest is going to increase."

The money generated is going into a central fund for the Heritage Malta board of directors to decide where to spend it. Choosing a site should not be a problem as several need investment and upgrading. Many of the buildings are old and need electrical installations, structural changes and constant maintenance.

Heritage Malta is not advertising aggressively due to the sites' limitations. Since they are also used for exhibitions, they are not always available at a moment's notice, for example.

With regard to the shops at the museums, Heritage Malta had made a call for expressions of interest in March and the negotiation process has now reached the final stages.

The first outlets to be opened will be at the Roman Domus, in Rabat, the Museum of Archaeology, the Inquisitor's Palace and two temporary visitor units - removable kiosk-like structures - at Hagar Qim and Ggantija.

The plan is for the first shops to be opened by the end of September but it takes time to build a product portfolio, Mr Cassar said, insisting that Heritage Malta was keen to make a distinction between traditional souvenirs and museum-type gifts, such as reproductions. They would be museum shops not souvenir shops, he said.