Accent on dexterity

The ever-growing awareness about the need to conserve and manage the country's cultural and historic heritage has created a demand for higher studies in this sphere, according to Martina Caruana, director of Heritage Malta's Institute of Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage.

Taking this demand into account, the institute two years ago launched a two-year part-time Master of Arts degree in cultural heritage management.

"This was a pilot project and 11 students who followed the course are expected to graduate in November.

"The studies feature a variety of disciplines varying from communication to management and organisation skills to finance and administrative techniques, while addressing cultural heritage issues.

"Students who graduate from this course could end up being curators of a museum or exhibitions and organisers of conventions, conferences and arts festivals," Dr Caruana, who is also head of academic and vocational studies and coordinator of the Masters Programmes, explained.

Following the success of the course, the institute is fine-tuning the programme of studies based on feedback from students and lecturers, planning, this year, to have an intake of 20 undergraduates.

The entry requirement for the Masters course is an Honours degree in a subject acceptable to the board of studies such as architecture, management, history of art, history, conservation, anthropology, music and theatre.

Lectures will be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 5.30 and 8.30 p.m. in the first three semesters with the last semester being dedicated to the thesis and practicum.

The institute collaborates with Palazzo Spinelli in Florence over this programme, with students having the opportunity to do part of their practicum in that artistic nirvana. Students can apply for the Masters course between today and Wednesday from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at the University of Malta, which is the awarding body of the degree.

Heritage Malta offers opportunities to students to gain first- hand experience by assisting in the organisation of exhibitions with one of the most recent being the Caravaggio display, Dr Caruana noted.

The Masters programme provides professionals with management skills to meet a growing demand from other camps such as the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

"A substantial number of people long to know the extent of the country's cultural treasure.

"While in the past, our cultural heritage was valued, overall, there now is a more conscious awareness of the fact that we have to conserve.

"Many things have helped to lead to this mental change to conserve particularly the National Heritage Act.

"On its part, Heritage Malta - the national agency tasked with caring for the national treasures entrusted to it - has presented the public with a more distinct physical profile of the national heritage," Dr Caruana added.

Both on a local and parochial level, people are gradually more conscious of the need to engage professionals trained in these fields. One can note an increased awareness in the importance of entrusting work to professionals rather than dilettantes, she said.

"When, recently, the institute organised a short course called Caring For Historic Houses we expected about 40 applicants but got well over 100. These ranged from architects, house owners and contractors to plasterers, students and housewives.

"It was also through this demand that I realised the great thirst for awareness in this sphere and the motivation to look after what we have."

The institute offers also an Honours Bachelor in Conservation and Restoration Studies, which was launched nine years ago. For this course, students require an intermediate certificate in chemistry, a Matsec certificate and have to pass an entrance exam.

The entrance exam - for which an introductory course is being held by the institute - checks a student's passion and aptitude for the subject with a great accent on dexterity.

Students following the course in conservation have the chance to work in Heritage Malta's Conservation Division laboratories, which, together with the Institute of Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage, are housed at the old Royal Navy hospital in Bighi, in Kalkara.