People wondering if there is a story behind an old photograph or a coin that they have at home can on June 15 take it to the Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa where Heritage Malta experts will be documenting historic memorabilia.

The objects, which have to be linked to the sea, will be examined, photographed and can be taken back home. But the information collected from these items will set the scene for a song, a play or contemporary dance as part of Valletta 2018.

V18 chair Jason Micallef this morning called on the public to take part in the Qatt ma Ninsa project by heading to Vittoriosa on June 15, where the museum will be open for the public and events for the day include re-enactments and 18th century food.

Through this project V18 is hoping to collect a series of stories and memories tied to the sea, which to date remain part of private collections in houses across Malta.

Addressing the same launch, Heritage Malta chair Joseph Buttigieg said the narratives will become part of the country’s collective memory, which in the future might even be published in a book.

“The Malta we know today is the result of experiences and stories that are locked up in private houses. People are being urged to bring old books or maybe even toys made at the dockyard, for example. The museum will not take the objects, but the memories surrounding them will be documented,” curator Liam Gauci said.

Entrance to the museum on June 15 will be €2 but people can try their luck and answer five questions to get free tickets.

More information on www.valletta2018.org and www.heritagemalta.org