The lecture will cover over 150 years of curating the collections and how a collection of 1,700 specimens has managed to reach a 10,000 figure.

In addition, the event will focus on some specimens and a number of donations, the taxidermists who prepared the specimens and the curators and ornithologists who studied Maltese birds.

Participants will learn about the role of the collections in the museum as tangible records, as comparative and prime source material for scientists making use of genetic studies, as well as aids to police investigations. Moreover, the talk will include the future of these collections, including their digitisation and their accessibility on the internet.

Admission to this event is free of charge.

The post HM to hold public lecture on birds in Mdina first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Mr Barthet studied at the “Liceo Umberto Primo” in Valletta and he began his art studies at the Malta School of Art, under the supervision of the artist Edward Caruana Dingli. In addition, he attended Giuseppe Calleja’s “Scuola del Nudo” at Old Mint Street.

Barthet was a prolific artist with the ability to diversify into still-life, landscape, and other genres, according to Heritage Malta. After that, he gained his new portraiture style during his studies in England at the “Academy of Arts” in Bath.

One of his most famous portraits is the one of Marì tal-Bajd, which represents a woman portrayed in her heavily veined and gnarled hands and in her expressive face which captures also a dignified look in her eyes. The painting is part of the National Collection and can be viewed at the national-community art museum MUŻA. Furthermore, Mr Barthet is known for his abstract rooftops paintings and for his ability to integrate painting and sculpture.

Admission to the event is free of charge.

The post HM to commemorate artist Esprit Barthet at MUZA first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The three sites will extend their opening hours for this occasion and, during the Birgu candlelight event on Saturday, people will see Fort St Angelo lighting up with traditional torches (fjakkoli) while reenactors will attend the Sunday events.

In addition, the area of Fort St Angelo administered by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta is going to open to the public during the evenings of Friday and Saturday. People will also be able to access the three cultural sites with a combined €3 ticket.

Activities planned for Friday:

• 18.00hrs – Guided tour of the Inquisitor’s Palace (in English)
• 18.00hrs – Guided tour of Fort St Angelo (in Maltese)
• 19.00hrs and 20.30hrs – Discussing the French Blockade (1798 – 1800) at the Malta Maritime Museum
• 21.00hrs – Guided tour of the Inquisitor’s Palace (in Maltese)
• 21.00hrs – Guided tour of Fort St Angelo (in English)

Activities planned for Saturday:

• Fort St Angelo lit up with fjakkoli
• 18.00hrs – Guided tour of the Inquisitor’s Palace (in Maltese)
• 19.00hrs and 20.30hrs – Discussing the French Blockade (1798 – 1800) at the Malta Maritime Museum
• 20.00hrs – Guided tour of Fort St Angelo (in Maltese)
• 22.00hrs – Guided tour of Fort St Angelo (in English)

Activities planned for Sunday:

• 09.30hrs – Guided tour of the Inquisitor’s Palace (in Maltese)
• 10.00 to 16.00hrs – Re-enactments: Aspects of the Castrum Maris in 1400 at Fort St Angelo
• 12.00hrs – Guided tour of the Inquisitor’s Palace (in English)

The extended opening times are as follows:

• Friday 11th October from 09.00 till 23.00hrs (last admission at 22.30hrs)
• Saturday 12th October from 09.00 till mid-night (last admission at 23.30hrs)
• Sunday 13th October from 09.00 till 18.00hrs (last admission at 17.30hrs)

The post HM plans special events for Birgu Fest first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The educational project will cover 25 thematic activities, involving students from kindergarten to post-secondary level. Students will tackle history, maths, Maltese grammar and literature, physical activity and drama. Some HM curators will deliver outreach programmes in schools including didactic resources and interactive workbooks.

“We hope that this multidisciplinary approach will show students and parents that museums are inclusive, accessible to everyone, and so much more than just historical sites,” said Mario Cutajar, Heritage Malta’s executive director.

“Following this summer’s successful programme, creating a new educational programme for the scholastic year was a natural continuation of our educational goals,” said Frank Fabri, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Education and Employment, while attending the launch.

The post HM and MEDE launch educational programme eyeing to reach 9,000 students first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The prehistoric temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, including the protective shelters, were unharmed; however, the Visitor Centre suffered some external damage, leading to the temporary closure of the site.

Fort St Elmo stood strong in heavy winds not suffering “any particular loss”, however, the site was temporarily closed as a safety precaution for being heavily exposed to northeastern winds, Heritage Malta said.

Considerable damage was caused in the Egmont Hall in Fort St Angelo include the roof and external information panels, HM added.

Further damages included the collapse of part of the boundary wall of the prehistoric site of Tas-Silġ in Marsaxlokk and some structural damage in one of the pavilions at St Paul’s Catacombs. Heritage Malta’s sites also saw some of its trees uprooted by the winds.

By the date of publication, HM reported having opened all the venues to the general public, including sites and museums.

The post Severe storm forces HM sites to close temporarily first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.