More adequate funding needed for cultural heritage

The budget for cultural heritage was far from adequate, Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett admitted yesterday.

He said that, although spending on cultural heritage had nearly doubled in recent years, one had to continue working to raise awareness for more adequate funding.

The minister made his comments at the launch of the first annual national forum on cultural heritage, held in terms of the Cultural Heritage Act.

The forum brought together state and non-state organisations involved in the heritage sector and other entities which expressed an interest in participating directly in the forum.

Mr Mugliett announced that a board to issue warrants for restorers was to be set up soon.

He said that a policy and strategy for the future had to be drawn up but as the government wanted to involve all those interested, the strategy would be presented within a year.

In the meantime, an interim plan for implementation was required.

Mr Mugliett said that, unfortunately, very little excavation work was being carried out, although there were many zones that deserved such an intervention.

Excavation work, he said, should be included as part of the country's regular work.

Research, on the other hand, was only being carried out thanks to the generosity of scholars, many of whom paid for the research out of their own pockets.

Institutions such as the Malta Centre for Restoration should carry out more direct conservation interventions and there should also be more urban regeneration.

Minister Mugliett said that Malta was still at the beginning of safeguarding its intangible heritage and there were certain aspects it was not equipped for, such as archaeological research on the seabed.

And museum attendance by both tourists and locals was still very low. All these were challenges that had to be faced.

Mr Mugliett said the superintendence for national heritage was a structure that placed the country in a position to exploit new opportunities, including subsidies and financing through funds and EU projects and programmes.

Ministry priorities in the interim included private-public partnerships.

The ministry would also be taking part in European projects, organise more quality exhibitions, complete the museum at Palazzo Falson, launch an action plan for Valletta and create a conscience regarding the need for more funds.

During yesterday's forum cultural heritage superintendent Anthony Pace presented the first State of the Heritage Report.