Malta participates in Spring of Museums initiative

Heritage Malta is participating in this year's Spring of Museums, a Europe-wide initiative aimed at increasing public awareness of the rich collections and cultural experience of museums.

Malta will be joining in the initiative with two events: an open day at two museums in Vittoriosa, and a children's treasure hunt.

The Museums Directorate of France launched Spring of Museums in 1999. Since then, the campaign has registered increasing success and has become a major event on Europe's cultural calendar. More than 1,200 establishments from across Europe will be participating in this year's initiative, which is being held for the first time under the auspices of the Council of Europe.

Events this year are being organised under the title of Mysteries and Discoveries, a theme inspired by Pliny's Natural History, in which he gives an account of the mythical origins of the discovery of painting and sculpture.

In Malta, the Inquisitor's Palace and the Malta Maritime Museum will be open free of charge on May 4 and children aged 5-12 will be able to enjoy a treasure hunt in the area and around the museums.

Those wishing to participate should be at the Inquisitor's Palace by 9.30 a.m. Booking is advised since the event is reserved for the first 50 children in each of two age groups. Prizes will be awarded for the first placed.

Later in the week, Nathaniel Cutajar from the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage will deliver a public lecture on Great Heritage Discoveries in Malta at the National Museum of Archaeology on May 7 at 7 p.m. The event is free of charge.

For further information and bookings, contact Kenneth Gambin at Heritage Malta on tel. 2166 3731 or e-mail info@heritagemalta.org

The full European programme of Spring of Museums can be consulted on internet.

http://printempsdesmusees.culture.fr