Martin Scicluna, executive president of Din l-Art Helwa, last Wednesday launched the year-long programme of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the Foundation. Also present was founder-president Judge Maurice Caruana Curran.
Mr Scicluna highlighted the following events: public tours to all the properties - historic sites and monuments - restored by Din l-Art Helwa between 1968 and 2005 will be held from April. The aim is to encourage access to these sites.
The association is hoping to organise a reunion of ex-teenagers of Din l-Art Helwa at the end of April. Mr Scicluna stressed the difficulties of contacting ex-teenagers who are now over 50 years old and said that it would be much easier if people contacted the foundation with their contact details.
A series of four concerts will take place during the association's International Music Festival in May at the medieval chapel of Bir Miftuh. Italian, British, French and German musicians will perform.
On June 11, a reception will take place at the Msida Bastion Garden of Rest, Floriana, in honour of all the corporate members who have generally contributed to Din l-Art Helwa. The highlight of the event will be an open-air concert by a German band that will be flown over purposely for the occasion.
The association hopes to inaugurate the complete restoration of the Santa Marija tower, Comino, on July 9, which is the 40th anniversary date.
The following day, a commemorative Mass will be held at St John's Co-Cathedral during which the Ampleforth College Choir from Yorkshire will perform.
Photographic and art exhibitions will be held in June, October and November.
The association is also launching three award schemes. The first is a silver medal marking the 40th anniversary, which will be awarded to all volunteers who have loyally supported Din l-Art Helwa. The second is the Journalism Award for Built Cultural Heritage. This will be presented annually for the article - in English or Maltese - that best gives a greater understanding and appreciation of Malta's cultural heritage. The Din l-Art Helwa award is to encourage architects to devote more attention to restore and conserve old buildings.
Mr Scicluna said: "We can make better use of old buildings rather than wiping them out and replacing them with modern flats".
Mr Scicluna said he is hoping to form a management agreement with Heritage Malta and make properties like the Skorba site in Birzebbuga more accessible to the public.
All ex-teenagers of the foundation who are interested in attending the reunion are invited to contact Din l-Art Helwa. Their offices are at 133, Melita Street, Valletta.