The Museum-cum-Cultural Centre, ‘Il-Hagar|Heart of Gozo,’ in Victoria, was inaugurated this morning by the Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi, with the Blessing by H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo.

The ERDF-supported Museum-cum-Cultural Centre was built by Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria, with the project coordinator Mgr Joseph Farrugia. Work started on the project in 2010.The Prime Minister said in his speech that this project is essential for tourists visiting Gozo and will enable them to gain a wonderful experience of the islands. He said that such projects, show how the use of European funds are really making a difference. He stressed that the country received € 1,128 million from Europe to be used in future years to make further investment, including € 110 million specifically for Gozo.This new Museum and Cultural Centre will be displaying a rich collection of historical and artistic artefacts which were in the past inaccessible to the public. It will also contribute towards a new alternative cultural tourism niche, synergising with Gozo’s cultural offer. Moreover the venue will include space for temporary exhibitions and events of cultural expression and development for various target groups.

In the preparatory stage of the museum, with the help of funds attained through ERDF co-funding, several intended exhibits were able to be restored with the aim of providing a unique experience and appreciation of these works of art.

The art restoration and conservation firm PrevArti of Mosta was responsible for the restoration of three paintings. These are the seventeenth century painting St Cajetan by an unknown artist, together with two eighteenth century works, namely the Holy Trinity by Enrico Regnaud and The Virgin of Light by Gio Nicola Buhagiar.

The restoration procedure necessitated several remedial interventions that included cleaning of the pictorial film from accumulated dirt, removal of over painting and later varnishes, infilling of missing parts, and finally the consolidation of the canvas by means of relining. The three paintings were fixed onto new modern expandable stretchers that would help to correct any sagging of the canvas due to fluctuating climatic conditions over time.

Three sculptures to be exhibitied were also restored with the help of the ERDF funds. The works selected were the statues of the Risen Christ by an unknown artist, the Veronica attributed to Saverio Laferla, and Ecce Homo by Carlo Darmanin. The winning bidder in this instance was the restoration firm ReCoop.

The three sculptures were in a very bad state prior to their restoration. After their thorough examination and following several discussions between the restorers and the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria, these works were finally repaired and recovered according to the exacting modern ethics of restoration.

The works are now fully restored and make up part of the display in the museum. The Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria said that “it is hoped that added funds will become available through generous donations so that more works of art that form part of the museum’s collection will be restored in the near future.”

The Museum will be open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 4pm.

On Friday evening a plaque was unveiled in honour of Canon Gann Piet Frangisk Agius de Soldanis, father of Gozo’s Historiography, by the Mayor of Victoria, Dr Samuel Azzopardi, during a commemorative event in St George’s Square.

The presentaion of the event was undertaken by Antoine Vassallo, Chairman of Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria and also included a short talk about Canon Agius De Soldanis by historian Notary Dr Paul G Pisani.

This was follwed by a Blessing of the plaque by St George’s Parish Archpriest, Mgr Paul Cardona.

Third set of photographs showing the interior of ‘Il-Hagar|Heart of Gozo’ are by Alain Salvary.

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