A foundation is fighting to keep Giuseppe Calì's oil paintings from flaking off the ceiling of St Dominic's parish church in Valletta but this comes at a cost of €350,000.

The amount is quite exorbitant for the parish situated in one of the poorest areas of the capital city and the Porto Salvo and St Dominic's Foundation is trying to raise funds.

Even before the precious oil on stone paintings are restored, the first major work has to be done on the church's exterior to avoid further damage being done and this alone has been estimated to cost €160,000.

The government has just contributed €20,000 to the restoration of the exterior through its Good Causes Fund but the road to full restoration of the church is long.

While thanking the government for its financial and technical assistance, foundation secretary Alfred Grixti urged corporate sponsors and donors to follow the government's example and give their financial support.

The project also fits in within the strategy of revitalising and upgrading the lower part of Valletta from the Palace to Fort St Elmo. "Our church is right in the middle of this," Mr Grixti said.

After salvaging the paintings, the foundation plans to restore the rest of the church's decorations and set up an interactive museum in the lower floor of the adjoining convent to exhibit the church's treasures, which only come out in the feast, all year round.

And a panoramic lift would take visitors up to the roof of the church and the convent, affording a breathtaking vista of Marsamxett harbour and the surroundings. The foundation plans to use EU funding for this project.