Meet the Committee
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![A woman with dark hair looking at an open book resting on a pillow in front of her in a room with bookshelves in the background.]()
Krystle Farrugia
President
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![A woman with short light brown hair styled in a bob, wearing a colorful blouse with an abstract pattern of circles in red, black, white, beige, and gold, and a matching tie at the neckline, smiling against a plain grey background.]()
Caroline Tonna
Vice President
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![A woman with short dark hair smiling, wearing a white lab coat, standing indoors in a room with yellow walls and blurred background.]()
Ninette Sammut
Honorary Secretary
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![Older man with glasses speaking into a microphone while reading documents at a conference table, with two women sitting behind him.]()
Joseph Schirò
Treasurer
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![A woman with dark hair wearing a beige short-sleeved sweater and purple gloves is painting a detailed floral design on a canvas.]()
Sarah Yoemans Gafà
Events Co-ordinator
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![A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, smiling, wearing a red and black striped shirt and a gold necklace with a round pendant, against a plain light background.]()
Audrey Rose Mizzi
Communications
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![Portrait of a woman with red hair, makeup, wearing a necklace, earrings, and a black lace top, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books.]()
Celine Portelli
Member
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![A man in a blue suit, white shirt, and red tie speaking behind a podium at the Heritage Malta National Museum of Archaeology, with ornate, old-fashioned wall decor in the background.]()
James Licari
Member
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Shahed Bensaid
Member
ABOUT
A Malta branch of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) was established on the initiative of Theresa Vella, then Principal Officer at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta, and Claude Busuttil. The official launch took place on 18 May 2002 at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity.
The first ICOM Malta Executive Board was chaired by Theresa M. Vella, with Nicholas de Piro serving as Vice-Chairman and Claude Busuttil as Secretary General. Joseph Galea Naudi held the role of Treasurer, while John Azzopardi, Suzannah Depasquale, Charles J. Farrugia, and Joseph Schirò served as members.
During the launch, Nicholas de Piro highlighted Malta’s strong culture of collecting, noting that many significant and fascinating objects had come to light over the previous two decades. He emphasised that Malta’s cultural heritage is comparable to that of much larger European nations, although funding for its preservation remains a challenge. He also suggested that museums should better reflect the aspirations of the Maltese people.
John Azzopardi, affectionately known as Dun Ġwann, spoke about the important role of Catholic cathedrals in safeguarding cultural heritage since the sixth century. He observed that individuals were often more inclined to donate valuable artistic works to the Church rather than to the state. He also pointed out that church sacristies and storerooms contain a wide range of religious artefacts that require proper evaluation and cataloguing.
The event also featured contributions from Suzannah Depasquale, then Assistant Curator at the Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, and Louis Galea, who was serving as Minister for Education at the time.
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DWARNA
Fergħa Maltija tal-Kunsill Internazzjonali tal-Mużewijiet (ICOM) ġiet stabbilita fuq l-inizjattiva ta’ Theresa Vella, li dak iż-żmien kienet l-Uffiċjal Prinċipali fil-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti fil-Belt Valletta, u Claude Busuttil. It-tnedija uffiċjali saret fit-18 ta’ Mejju 2002 fiċ-Ċentru għall-Kreattività tal-Kavallier ta’ San Ġakbu.
L-ewwel Bord Eżekuttiv tal-ICOM Malta kien ippresedut minn Theresa M. Vella, b’Nicholas de Piro jservi bħala Viċi President u Claude Busuttil bħala Segretarju Ġenerali. Joseph Galea Naudi kellu r-rwol ta’ Teżorier, filwaqt li John Azzopardi, Suzannah Depasquale, Charles J. Farrugia, u Joseph Schirò servew bħala membri.
Matul it-tnedija, Nicholas de Piro enfasizza l-kultura qawwija tal-kollezzjoni ta’ Malta, filwaqt li nnota li ħafna oġġetti sinifikanti u affaxxinanti kienu ħarġu fid-dieher matul l-aħħar żewġ deċennji. Huwa enfasizza li l-wirt kulturali ta’ Malta huwa komparabbli ma’ dak ta’ nazzjonijiet Ewropej ferm akbar, għalkemm il-finanzjament għall-preservazzjoni tiegħu jibqa’ sfida. Huwa ssuġġerixxa wkoll li l-mużewijiet għandhom jirriflettu aħjar l-aspirazzjonijiet tal-poplu Malti.
John Azzopardi, magħruf b’affezzjoni bħala Dun Ġwann, tkellem dwar ir-rwol importanti tal-katidrali Kattoliċi fis-salvagwardja tal-wirt kulturali mis-sitt seklu ’l hawn. Huwa osserva li l-individwi spiss kienu aktar inklinati li jagħtu xogħlijiet artistiċi ta’ valur lill-Knisja milli lill-istat. Huwa rrimarka wkoll li s-sagristiji u l-imħażen tal-knejjes fihom firxa wiesgħa ta’ artefatti reliġjużi li jeħtieġu evalwazzjoni u katalogar xieraq.
L-avveniment kellu wkoll kontribuzzjonijiet minn Suzannah Depasquale, li dak iż-żmien kienet Assistent Kuratur fil-Mużew tal-Arkeoloġija fil-Belt Valletta, u Louis Galea, li kien qed iservi bħala Ministru għall-Edukazzjoni dak iż-żmien.