Free entrance to four museums on June 7

Mario Farrugia

Jun 2nd 2012, 06:51

The three local readers who replied to my explanatory comment to Mr Anderson's complaint happen to be three very familiar online blogging trawls who from the comfort of their homes or office tend to comment and snipe at anything under the sun. Their wisdom seems to be endless. So here they go again.

M. Borg (slm) goes on that our museum prices are too high compared to other countries - this assumption is both generic and completely false. Museum prices around the world are dictated by the size of their operation and the visitor catchment they appeal to unless he is referring to the state-funded museums in some of the world’s capitals where entrance is completely free due to their heavy subsidizing through taxpayer money.
In Malta, we suffer from low numbers given the size of the population and the fact that our cultural heritage is stiflingly ubiquitous in our lives. This makes it less likely for individuals wanting to visit it. Besides, it is a known factor that once someone visits a given museum or attraction he won't return to it before at least another three years unless he is dedicated to the subject it represents. For the majority of the Maltese that should read for the rest of their lives. Sadly, despite all the efforts that all of those working within the cultural sector have done, the widest majority still views a visit to a museum as an unnecessary perk, something solely intended for tourists or kids or perhaps a reluctant yet obliging nicety towards a visiting foreign friend. This is wrong and it simply shows how culturally poor we as a nation remain. Malta has one of the richest man-made heritages in the world but this is widely ignored by the Maltese. As a nation we remain willing to spend far more on life-threatening foods and ways of useless and idle entertainment than on our cultural well-being. And I can assure your readers that this has nothing to do with the cost of the entrance fees or lack of awareness – the reason is ingrained, habitual and more complex.

Then comes Mr Grech who in his ‘great comment of the day’ even had the temerity to remind us “… that you are not offering food or anything, you are simply allowing people to view your exhibits…” . In my opinion, this goes a long way to show this reader’s poor understanding of what we do and what we stand for. My answers to this are: a) museums are not restaurants and they don’t normally offer food unless they are engaging in some form of experimental archaeology or sensory experience (why is it always with food with us Maltese?!); b) Visiting our sites and museums is not restricted to viewing our exhibits but it is about gaining an experience.

As it is always the case with the Complaints Brigade, none of these readers have truly done any research before they plunged in doing what they seem to enjoy best –boring us to death with unsolicited advice and endless whinging. Had they done so, they could have realised that FWA offers a range of very cheap memberships for both individuals and family groups which enable them to visit any of our sites and museums for as many times as they wish for a whole year – Adult (€18.00), Student/Pensioner (€12.00 and Family (€24.00). Now, what’s that if not a bargain? Or would that be too steep again as to force them into compulsory starvation - of the mind that is.

m. borg (slm)

Jun 1st 2012, 17:10

I agree with Mr Grech prices are too high compared to other countries.

If the prices are lowered visitors would increase and revenue would follow.

Alfred Grech

Jun 1st 2012, 15:11

Mr Farrugia, there are several historic sites that are worth visiting but let me tell you that most are too expensive to visit. My wife and I were at Rinella but did not pay to go in because €20.00 between us would be too much to pay.

Don't forget that you are not offering food or anything, you are simply allowing people to view your exhibits and believe me, if you cut the price by half many will but the ticket and go in and if they like it, they may even go in a second time if they are in the area.

We did not pay to see Limestone Heritage neither - price is too steep and I am not the only person who feels like this.

Lower your prices and you'll see many more visitors and the income will be much higher.

Mario Farrugia

Jun 1st 2012, 11:22

We are very sorry to hear that Mr Anderson was not satisfied with his visit to Fort Rinella in Kalkara - home to the world's largest cannon, the Armstrong 100-ton gun. As a matter of fact, we find this very odd as Fort Rinella proves to be very popular with both local and foreign visitors. It attracts thousands every year and so far we have only had very encouraging and satisfying feedback from our patrons. So, I find his comment both subjective and unreasonable. Indeed, FWA prides itself at being the only one in its field to offer regular guided tours and film shows at its multiple sites. This is not done anywhere else on the island. On top of this we also offer unique re-enactment displays at no extra charge other than the normal entrance fee. Six-days a week, at Fort Rinella we offer the following displays besides continuous guided tours and film shows: ‘Military Signalling Display’ at 11.00am, ‘Musketry through the Ages’ at 1.00pm and the main animated tour at 2.00pm. This starts with the firing of a Victorian howitzer which can also be fired by the public at an extra charge as they can also do in the case of the musketry.

Mr Anderson may have missed on the fact that Fort Rinella is managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (the Malta Heritage Trust) which is an independent non-governmental organisation. This makes it totally reliant on its own resources and any support and sponsorships it gets from private individuals and companies. He should also realise that to keep a historic place like Fort Rinella in good order and available to the public on a six-day rota as we do it takes not only a lot of effort but also a lot of money. I can assure him, that the €10 entrance fee he paid is but a mere fraction of what should really be paid to carry on doing what we do. Indeed, if it was not for the kind assistance received from the Good Causes Fund, Go plc and in particular from the Bank of Valletta it would be impossible for FWA to continue opening Fort Rinella and provide the same level of services as we currently do. Ideally we would let anyone for free but that is impossible as someone has to foot the ever mounting bills in running the place. The cost of €10 is a pittance when compared at what you get for the same in a standard coffee shop or a take-away franchise.
My conclusion is that Mr Anderson was unfortunate enough to have missed out on all what we offer at this place. Hence, may I suggest that he will contact us directly to make sure that we will invite him back to see what he has missed out? I am sure he will be writing back to encourage all and sundry to visit this truly unique site.

Mario Farrugia
Executive Chairman
Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

kenneth anderson

Jun 1st 2012, 08:56

warning to any tourists or locals......dont waste your time and effort going to fort rinella in kalkara, malta to see the 'big gun'......you will have to pay 10 euro's each to gain entrance to the fort....very expensive...and nothing else apart from the gun...very disappointing...and expensive.... 5 euros would have been ok(just) ...

john muscat

May 31st 2012, 17:42

More people should visit the Maltese museums as there are treasures to admire.