The government has published the draft of a revised National Cultural Heritage Strategy, with the emphasis being on enhancing the role of local councils in the care and promotion of cultural heritage found in their localities.

Local councils already organise many cultural activities but the draft strategy will seek to improve this even more, explained Superintendent of Cultural Heritage Antony Pace.

The State of the Heritage Report for 2011, showed that out of the 722 cultural activities organised last year, 451 were organised by local councils, deputy Superintendent Nathaniel Cutajar explained.

Both men spoke during the seventh national forum on cultural heritage organised this morning at the Mediterranean Conference Center in Valletta.

Culture Minister Mario de Marco spoke about the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations. He recalled that in 2006 the government had launched the first national strategy for cultural heritage which was to be updated every five years.

Today, the draft of the second version was being launched for consultation.

Dr Borg, who explained the content of the draft, said it stressed on the importance of local councils, set up a monitoring team to ensure the strategy was implemented and focused on making culture accessible to all.

The draft also recommended identifying archaeological reserves that would ensure that valuable sites or monuments were better safeguarded and managed.

Mr Cutajar gave the highlights of the 2011 annual report and pointed out that last year 122 students at university and MCAST chose subjects related to cultural heritage. Since 1994, 2,549 buildings had been scheduled.

Over the years the Superintendence had moved towards better monitoring. In 2008 the number of terms of reference issued for monitoring of protected sites stood at 66. This increased to 113 in 2009, 123 in 2010 and 248 in 2011, he said.

www.culturalheritage.gov.mt