Private engagement and our cultural heritage

"An idea that does not try to express itself in words is a bad idea" - G.K. Chesterton.

It is a given that there are multifarious ways and means employed by countries to safeguard, promote and enlarge (through regular, high-value acquisitions) their cultural heritage. Invariably, the private sector is engaged and involved.

While I was in Paris recently, during which I had the honour of meeting several high-ranking officials in the judicial, political and cultural fields (thanks to the programme organised for me by the French Embassy in Malta), I became even more aware of the need to start thinking laterally in the field of the local cultural heritage and involve more than ever the private sector in its promotion.

My meeting with the Director of the Louvre Museum turned out to be one of the most fruitful meetings I had. During our discussion, I was eager to discover new forms of collaboration that could be developed between the Louvre and Malta. I was glad he acceded to my request of having regular exchanges between Heritage Malta and the Louvre.

He himself is more than willing to send over curators from the Louvre to Malta in the very near future to exchange knowledge and expertise in restoration and other techniques with their Maltese counterparts. The Louvre will gladly accept art curators from Malta for a stage in Paris.

Hence, a symbiosis can be created (including joint exhibitions) from which both entities benefit. After all, he is aware of the masterpieces and the huge cultural wealth in Malta.

I also broached the La Valette jewel-bedecked, sword theme. Napoleon was kind enough to take this unique sword from Malta for safekeeping. It is found in the Louvre and, not once, various Maltese governments have attempted to get the Louvre donate us a replica of it. I reiterated our claim. The director replied that, if technically possible, such a replica will be made. Maybe the matter needs following up by the respective foreign affairs and cultural entities in Malta.

But what surely struck me was the French legislation intended to encourage the private sector in helping the state acquire, yearly, cultural and artistic artefacts. Everyone knows of the exorbitant value attaching to high-value artistic items, putting them beyond the reach of the budget of all states, ours included. At the same time, people expect the cultural heritage found in their countries to be amplified through regular acquisitions.

In 2003, the French Parliament passed a law whereby when a private individual buys an item considered to be of a high artistic value and donates it to the state, 90 per cent of its price is given back by the state in the form of income tax rebates. In this way, the private entity, apart from gaining publicity, gets practical financial incentives from the state.

Even in the field of historic buildings needing restoration, the state applies the same logic and grants tax rebates to owners who undertake state-mandated restoration.

This piece of French legislation is considered among the most avant-garde internationally. The government can surely take a cue from it and legislate in such a way as to make it appealing to the private sector to partake and own the promotion and safeguarding of our cultural heritage, even with regular acquisitions. However, this sector has to be more engaged.

The art of today is the heritage of tomorrow.

Dr Azzopardi MP (Nat.) is chairman, Foreign and European Affairs Committee.

jason.azzopardi@gov.mt