Keeping the past alive in museums

Museums play an important role in life - they showcase a nation's heritage and that of other civilisations. Museums are permanent institutions that offer a service to society and its development. They do not merely offer a display, but also education and knowledge for the specialist and non specialist alike. Museums help keep the past alive.

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) launched International Museum Day in 1977 to increase public awareness of the importance of museums. The newly set-up Heritage Malta is celebrating this event locally for the first time with a series of activities.

These include a public seminar held yesterday organised by ICOM Malta which examined aspects of the island's national, private and religious museums and collections.

Heritage Malta's CEO Antoinette Caruana, ICOM Malta chairman Theresa Vella, conservation consultant Dr Claude Busuttil and Limestone Heritage director Emmanuel Baldacchino presented different perspectives on local museums.

Ms Vella in her paper spoke about the importance of volunteers, trustees, benefactors, donors, research fellows, curators, guides and all those who in some way contribute to a museum. She said that "working in a museum is a commitment to a higher ideal" and described people who work in museums as "guardians of our nation".

ICOM, an international organisation dedicated to the development of museums and the museum profession, operates globally for the preservation of cultural heritage. It is a worldwide network for museum professionals of all disciplines and specialisations.

ICOM Malta has been operating for a year. Malta is now benefiting from ICOM's professional expertise and is part of a wider network of museums. Ms Vella said that although there is a long road ahead, Malta is already on the right path.

The notion of museum friends is not merely a noble ideal, but something that produces tangible results. She urged people to contribute to museums as much as they can, emphasising that museums depend on this type of goodwill.

The challenges faced by a private museum were brought forward by Mr Baldacchino, who spoke with pride about the satisfaction of turning a disused quarry into a cultural centre, Limestone Heritage, that showcases Malta's precious resource - stone.

The Baldacchino family has a long tradition in quarrying and construction. This inspired them to transform the quarry into a museum. It took a lot of research, investment, energy and teamwork. This year they are celebrating their first anniversary.

The centre aims to teach people about the building industry in Malta from prehistory to the present. The family felt that there was a need for people to learn about such a prevalent aspect of Maltese history and society, and what better way to do this than by taking people on site?

The centre makes technical knowledge available to anyone willing to learn. Mr Baldacchino noted that turning an environmental problem into a centre of culture was not easy. For now, the project is not generating spectacular financial returns; however, the satisfaction it offers is immense. Mr Baldacchino noted that stone and people's skills are part of our identity and this centre is an opportunity to present this aspect of our heritage to the rest of the world.

Dr Claude Busuttil offered another facet of museums and museology, that of displaying an important painting in a manner beneficial to the painting and its context and to the visitor. His paper, entitled The Caravaggio 'St Jerome' display system: a case study in preventive conservation, provided the various technical and aesthetic issues such a display requires.

The St Jerome was stolen and thankfully recovered, after which it was sent to Rome for restoration. When it was returned, it was displayed in a manner that disrupted Mattia Preti's design for the display of the Order of St John's Beati. Preti had designed a setting that displayed all the Beati, with a focus on Caravaggio's Beheading of St John.

The project, inaugurated last August, restored that order. A stand was built specifically for the St Jerome, now housed in St John's Co-Cathedral Oratory. The display support stand provides security without compromising aesthetics.

Although built of steel, the stand's outside reflects the Tuscan order of the co-cathedral's façade. The whole concept is to tone down the container in order to focus on the content. To respect the painting's religious connotations, the frame was built with features of a pala d'altare. Taken as a whole, the stand's colours blend with the setting and respect both Caravaggio's and Preti's original work.

Moreover, the painting can be viewed at eye-level, so as not to distort its perspective construction lines. The stand also has space for information panels. It also controls visitor movement and access. Physical barriers are provided by the stand itself, a cordoned rope and an alarm system between the rope and the stand.

Attention was also paid to lighting. The painting is lit by fibre optic lighting that does not dissipate heat towards the painting. Special lenses also deflect light.

Glass was necessary to protect the painting from physical damage. However, the current thick laminated glass has caused reflection problems. In the near future, this will be replaced with laminated glass that does not reflect. Future plans also include a proper lighting system for the oratory.

Visitors are now able to experience the two Caravaggios in one space. Besides the masterpieces, visitors can now understand and appreciate the amount of work needed in order to offer such a display.

Antoinette Caruana spoke about the challenges facing Heritage Malta, the organisation in charge of the management, conservation, interpretation and marketing of the cultural heritage.

Heritage Malta is offering a holistic vision and a strategic dimension to cultural heritage management, by developing an already strong team and networking with third parties. It also aims to generate funding for reinvestment and offer continued growth, developing a corporate image that is recognisable and credible.

Despite being young and having only limited funds, Heritage Malta is already working hard towards the organisation, management and promotion of cultural heritage.

It is looking into a new ticketing system, the first phase of which will be implemented this year and is also working on a merchandise and retail plan for local and foreign visitors.

The organisation is also revamping the National Museum of Archaeology's and National Museum of Natural History's courtyards, increasing security at Hagar Qim and Mnajdra and raising funds for building a shelter for temples.

On the marketing front, it is creating a Website, leaflets for visitors and organising other events aimed at making heritage accessible to everyone. The successful open day at Ta' Hagrat and the clearing work at Skorba by St Edward's College students are two recent examples of their work.

Heritage Malta also recognises the importance of educating the public and the public's contribution. It is thus developing a programme for patrons and friends. It is also planning on disseminating as much information as possible.

With such initiatives, the future certainly looks bright. In a closing address, Minister for Youth and Arts Jesmond Mugliett praised the amount of professional work that has already been done. He noted that the cultural heritage scenario has changed considerably over the years, and although there is room for more work, the outlook is very positive.

However, the minister noted that there is a need for ongoing research in the sector, with an emphasis on the local contribution. He also stressed that heritage belongs to everyone, therefore, we must all work together and give our contribution.

Ms Caruana stressed that our heritage is a unifying and binding force. Indeed it is. We have a heritage to be proud of, a heritage that we should appreciate and preserve for future generations.