Yesterday marked the inauguration of Malta’s much-awaited National Museum of Fine Arts – known as MUZA – and while the cultural centre is not yet open to the public and its programme of events is yet to be announced, we’ve been given a sneak peak as to what to expect! 

The museum is being touted as “the first of its kind” by Heritage Malta, who have said it will be “a game-changer on the local art scene”. It aims to be “a resource of inspiration, a means to question and a way to empower”, according to the entity, who have also described it as “one of the most ambitious arts and culture projects which Malta has ever embarked on” - we're intrigued!

Its focus is on ensuring the public interacts with the collections, and providing “participatory experiences” by means of exhibits which will “be more of a resource at the service of the community, fostering a sense of identity that goes beyond territory, gender and other perceived or factual identity constructs,” Heritage Malta says.

The site itself – the 16th century Auberge d’Italie, located just behind Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta - was subject to an immense overhaul in order to retain a sense of its history while also preparing it for its new role. “Constructed in stages over the span of 400 years, the building had been moulded to serve the requirements of the time. However, to enable the Auberge to tell its written and unwritten history in its totality, it was necessary for the interventions to retain and make legible all the surviving layers found within. The intention was not to reconstruct but to evoke the memory of what once was,” Heritage Malta continues.

A staggering sum - €10 million - was invested in the project (funds which were acquired under the European Regional Development Fund and through Valletta 2018), to affect the renovations, which included retrofitting energy-efficient systems and implementing green-powered measures to minimise the site's carbon footprint, making it one of the few museums in the world to do so. Indeed, the project has already been on the receiving end of international prizes and accolades for its innovative measures designed to bring the building up to 21st century standards.

The layout of the space was also designed to encourage participation with the exhibits, Heritage Malta explains. “The new museum intends to reach out to people who may have never been interested to visit it, so it was purposely designed to welcome the public.” Indeed, there are two entrances – one on Merchants Street and the other on Jean de Valette Square – including a passageway which acts “as an extension to the urban landscape of the capital city”, while the historical courtyard was retained to “serve as a smooth transition from outside to inside.”

The collections themselves have been set up to tell a story. Artworks which had previously been housed in the National Museum of Fine Arts in South Street and newly-acquired pieces have been “carefully placed to create visual links and comparatives. Portraits were craftily located to serve as visual links across all galleries, often hanging past access points to entice visitors to explore further inside,” Heritage Malta states. 

Moreover, the time taken to renovate the site has been put to good use, since it has allowed the museum’s curators and project managers to “take a thorough stock-take of the entire collection” which was on display in the South Street museum, bringing to light pieces which had previously been overlooked. “This led to some interesting revelations, such as the square piano. Being the only musical instrument in the collection, all the necessary conservation efforts were made to ensure that its original function is brought to light in order to include it among the MUŻA's prestigious exhibits,” Heritage Malta continues.

And, with a host of canvases, sculptures, vases, paintings and other visual experiences to enjoy, MUZA is set to make its mark on the local cultural scene, and might – we hope – leave a lasting legacy long after the final days of Valletta’s year as Capital of Culture. 

Keep checking back for updates on the opening dates for MUZA and its programme of events.