Giovanni Bonello writes:
I recently remarked on how many exceptional people I had met in my life. Maurice de Giorgio was not exceptional. He was unique.
Maurice de Giorgio was a founder member of Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti since its inception in 1992 and had been its president for 23 years. Since the first moment of Patrimonju’s existence, Maurice has dedicated his life, virtually full-time, to the achievement of the aims of the foundation, establishing it as the leading player in the cultural field in Malta.
His baby, a not-for-profit organisation aimed at spreading awareness of the islands’ extensive heritage, locally and internationally, through constant programmes of initiatives and activities, is his permanent monument.
Maurice believed intensely in the democratisation of the Maltese cultural heritage – bringing culture and cultural artefacts to the people by means of exhibitions, publications, conferences, museums and house museums, and by always contextualising the relevance of those artefacts with the identity and progress of the people.
In his 90s, Maurice attended the foundation’s offices regularly. He still felt a duty to give, when he had given more than everything. His impeccable manners, his inspirational example, his mild determination were simply awesome.
Through the untiring efforts of Maurice de Giorgio, almost all the exhibitions held in Malta to the highest international standards since 1992 had been organised on his initiative. These exhibitions brought to the people many treasures related to Maltese culture, hidden in private Maltese households, and enabled thousand of Maltese and foreigners to admire and enjoy what would otherwise have been inaccessible.
Maurice’s exhibitions have themed most spectacularly Maltese costume, silver, furniture, jewellery, sedan chairs, clocks, portable altars, prehistory, maiolica, etc. Most of the massive investment required to produce these exhibitions has been sourced from private financing organised by Maurice.
Maurice has also been responsible for what is considered the most active and vibrant editorial venture in Malta. Throughout the years under the guidance of Maurice, Patrimonju has published, to the highest cultural, visual and technical standards, over 50 books of original research related to the history, the profile and the cultural development of Malta.
Many of these publications have been awarded Best Book of the Year prize. Maurice’s venture has also edited, for over 20 years, the quarterly magazine Treasures of Malta, acknowledged as the unchallenged leader in cultural periodicals.
Through Maurice’s initiatives, the foundation has also been responsible for the setting up of the Manoel Theatre museum and of the Palazzo Falson historic house museum in Mdina. The latter is, in itself, a hive of lively cultural activities and initiatives, including smaller thematic exhibitions, publications and crowd-pulling tours, conferences and lectures.
Maurice was the very embodiment of civic engagement. His motivation and his single-minded commitment to the democratisation of Maltese culture have been paramount in his life for 23 years. The success of his ventures has fortified and enriched the spirit of the nation.
Goodbye, gentle giant of Maltese culture. To simply say we will miss you demeans the sense of loss.