State-of-the-art migration museum

Migration is a phenomenon close to the hearts and minds of the Maltese na­tion. It has been a major feature of Maltese social and economic history in the last two centuries and has, without doubt, played an important role in shaping Maltese history. Thousands of Maltese lived, and continue to live through second, third and fourth generations, in various countries all over the world, remaining nonetheless intrinsically Maltese.

Being part of the fabric of the making of the Maltese nation, these migrants and their descendants call for and deserve a proper museum which allows the visitor to appreciate the efforts they made in adjusting successfully to a new environment and to study the evolution of Maltese migration and its impact on Maltese society.

The Emigrants’ Commission, a Church organisation established to assist emigrants in their preparation for a new life abroad and to retain a close relationship with the families they left behind, took up the initiative to set up the museum.

The commission is aiming at a state-of-the-art digital museum on migration from the Maltese islands to be called the Migration Museum (Malta). It will be situated at Dar l-Emigrant, the commission’s headquarters in Valletta. The project has been designed with the help of various experts.

The commission is now appealing for generosity to help conserve properly this vital and intrinsic part of the history of these islands, which all Maltese, whether in Malta or overseas, surely want to bequeath to future generations as part of their heritage.

The Emigrants’ Commission’s appeal is for contributions from corporate bodies and the public, especially migrants and their families, to help raise the necessary funds to equip the digital section of the museum and so participate in its development.

The first phase of the project will feature a digital collection management system that will record, consolidate and preserve the entire Emigrants’ Commission’s vital records and artefacts relating to Maltese emigration for posterity.

The digital museum will assist in the easy dissemination of information among visitors, students, scholars and the public using the latest interactive multimedia technology. The information will be brought to life via numerous touch screens, video projections and showcases, thereby enhancing the impact of the content on the visitors to the museum.

The museum’s first phase will cost €202,300. This will cover free-standing/wall-mounted information podiums, a central information table-style podium, a projector and a projector screen, server room equipment, a cataloguing PC and a classroom PC, a media controller, a museum interactive system, a cataloguing suite, showcases, chairs and a website.

There will be further expense on the necessary structural works to transform the building of Dar l-Emigrant into a Migration Museum according to plans already approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the installation of a new lift and other facilities.

The museum will also include a multimedia presentation at the auditorium, where, to date, one can see the film Sacred Island.

The Emigrants’ Commission has extensive memorabilia as a result of the active contribution it has been making for several years in assisting emigrants setting overseas.

These include both official and non-official documentation, photos and newspapers from various countries, items, certificates, personal and general records, stories and letters. They will form part of the documented history that will be archived and, where appropriate, exhibited at the museum.

As many Maltese families and those of Maltese origin scattered in various countries also have documentation, items and memorabilia of particular importance worthy of preservation, the museum would continue to welcome such contributions.

Anyone, whether from Malta or beyond, who believes in the Migration Museum project and can offer financial assistance or suitable material to the museum so that the history of Maltese migration can be fully and properly represented at the museum is being invited to contact the organisers of the museum - Dar l-Emigrant, Castille Place, Valletta VLT 1062 (telephone: 2122 2644/2123 2545/2124 0255; e-mail: maltamigrationmuseum@melita.com).