The Tempra Contemporary Art Museum, set up in 1999, now occupies three floors at the Mġarr council premises. It was officially inaugurated last month at the opening of the 2012 Tempra Academy.

The museum holds paintings, sculptures, graphics and other modern art works by 250 artists from 75 countries donated by Dame Françoise Tempra, a long-time resident of Mġarr.

The Tempra Academy, which had its first edition in London in 1975, normally presents 50 cultural events during the year, including art exhibitions, lectures, concerts, recitals, poetry readings, films, fashion shows, and literary evenings in various countries.

This year the Tempra Academy will hold events in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the US.

At the opening of this year’s Tempra Academy, Fr Marius Zerafa, former curator of the National Museum, said he was delighted with the opening of the Tempra Museum as previous attempts to set up a contemporary art museum in Malta had failed.

On January 26, Fr Zerafa received the 2011 Gold Medal of the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce from President George Abela, for his contribution to Malta’s artistic heritage and art historical scholarship.

After the inauguration of the museum, a concert was held featuring the Marie Therese Vassallo Voice Studio, the University of Malta Junior College Orchestra conducted by Manuel Pirotta, pianist Rosanne Busuttil Bellizzi, tenor Bernard Busuttil, Michela Galea, a 14-year-old singer and musician, and nine-year-old singer Gaia Cauchi of Mġarr, who had appeared on RAI Uno’s programme Ti lascio una canzone, singing Proud Mary with Little Tony, Alex Britti and Alessandra Moroso.

Visiting hours at the museum, which is opposite the parish church, are from 8 a.m. to noon, Mondays to Fridays, and also from 1 to 2.30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 1 to 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.