When both the Minister of Education, Youth and Culture Dolores Cristina and the opposition spokesman for youth and culture, Owen Bonnici sagely discuss the issue of contemporary art in Parliament, as was reported in these hallowed columns a couple of weeks ago and restated by Dr Bonnici in his letter of July 14, both incumbents are either unaware of or ignoring the fact that more than the lack a "contemporary museum", Malta badly needs a museum of modern art. In fact, Malta needs both.

Where art on display is concerned there is a great big void as, since Favray's 18th century portraits of grandmasters and members of the local nobility and clergy, there is relatively very little to see. Almost two centuries of Maltese art is hidden in reserve and private collections with only a smattering on display.

So, before we even discuss placing the works of living artists in a museum, I think it would make eminent sense to house those of our immediate forbearers and mentors without whom many of us, contemporary artists, would not be flourishing today. It is solely the art of those who came before us that makes contemporary art possible. It is, therefore, a logical conclusion that priority must be given to a Museum of Modern Art.

Any other way would simply be putting the cart before the horse.