Students volunteer for temples clean-up

A group of students from St Edward's College will spend this Sunday morning cleaning up Skorba Temples, near Mgarr, to mark International Museums Day 2003.

The initiative is a collaborative effort involving Heritage Malta and Din L-Art Helwa.

International Museums Day was launched by the International Council of Museums in 1977 with the aim of raising public awareness of the important role museums play in society.

Every year, museums all over the world mark the occasion with open days, guided tours and public events and workshops.

This year's theme, "Museums and Friends", celebrates the role of volunteers, patrons, partners and other benefactors whose efforts are vital in assisting museums in their daily work of managing, maintaining and presenting collections.

The Skorba ruins and the sister temple site Ta' Hagrat, both on the outskirts of Mgarr, are two of the islands' most interesting archaeological sites. They are generally not open to the public and are regarded as of more relevance to archaeologists and informed visitors.

Skorba, first excavated in 1966 by British archaeologist David Trump, is important for what it reveals about the pre-temple, Neolithic period.

Two further events are being held this coming weekend in celebration of International Museums Day.

Tomorrow ICOM Malta will be holding a public seminar on aspects of the islands' national, private and religious museums and collections.

The speakers are Antoinette Caruana, CEO, Heritage Malta; Theresa Vella, chairman, ICOM, Malta; Claude Busuttil, conservation consultant and Emmanuel Baldacchino, director, Limestone Heritage.

The seminar takes place at 10.30 a.m. at The Salon, The National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta.

Entrance is free.

On Sunday, the National Museum of Natural History, Mdina, is opening new halls to the public. The public is invited to join guided tours and to attend talks by the Entomological Society of Malta at 10.30 a.m., 1.30 p.m. and 2.40 p.m.