The International Council of Museums – International Committee for Museums and Collections of Fine Arts (ICOM-ICFA) annual meeting for 2011 was held in Malta between October 4 and 8.

It was attended by delegates from Italy, France, Germany, UK, Estonia, Norway, Finland and Russia, some of whom also spoke during the conference entitled ‘The Mediterranean as a hub for artistic ideas’, which was held on October 5 at Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar.

This conference focused on ideas which converged within, and spread from, the Mediterranean, and included presentations about artists who visited, worked in or drew inspiration from this region, and who took back influences to their home countries.

Other themes included the Grand Tour and its influence on artistic production, and the impact of Orientalism on lands bordering the Mediterranean.

A round table discussion with the theme ‘Research and fine art collections’ followed in the afternoon.

While in Malta, the delegation enjoyed walking tours of Valletta, Vittoriosa and Mdina, led by art historians and experts, and visited several museums, with tours conducted by their respective curators. The delegation also visited the temples and numerous other places of cultural and historic interest.

The ICOM-ICFA annual meeting was organised by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti in collaboration with ICOM Malta, on behalf of ICFA.

ICFA was founded in 1980, and its membership includes around 500 museum and gallery professionals. The committee holds an annual meeting to exchange ideas and discuss issues and problems affecting the art world.