Fine Arts Museum to move

The National Museum of Fine Arts in Republic Street, Valletta, is to be transferred to the Auberge d’Italie, it was announced in the Budget speech this evening. €200,000 are to be allocated for the purpose.

The National Museum of Fine Arts is housed in a small palazzo in South Street, built at the time of the knights. It was subsequently used for the civil administration during the time of the French in Malta and served as Admiralty House under the British. The building badly needs restoration.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech this evening also announced an allocation of €7.7 million for the cultural sector.

Some of that will be used for  a children’s art festival, a baroque music festival, an arts programme linked to Valletta’s new open air theatre, and a greater allocation to the National Orchestra the Manoel Theatre and the Malta Council for Arts and Culture.