The Din l-Art Helwa Youth Committee organised a very successful Restoration Workshop last Saturday and Sunday, at Our Lady of Victory Church, Valletta.
Conducting Conservators were Ms Amy Sciberras, Ms Sarah Yeomans Gafa and the event was co-ordinated by Council Members Ms Mariagrazia Cassar and Mr Ian Camilleri, with the collaboration of the Our Lady of Victory custodian, Mr Mario Sciberras.
This initiative was organised in the run up to the Din l-Art Helwa’s 50th Anniversary and enhanced the main purposes and objectives of the Youth Committee in involving young people in Din l-Art Helwa’s mission.
The workshop threw light on the general care and conservation of collections and cultural heritage so as to raise awareness among the general public, especially the young, regarding the importance of preserving our national patrimony.
The conducting conservators demonstrated the diverse steps of conservation of paintings, including preliminary scientific analysis, to better tailor the required treatments.
Through the use of posters, on site non-invasive analysis and hands-on work on a number of old paintings, the general public and students were introduced to the scientific research involved in the field of restoration.
The Minister of Education, Dr Evarist Bartolo, declared the workshop open during a visit which he made together with his wife, Ms Gillian Bartolo on Saturday morning. He took much interest in the activity encouraging the young conservators and auguring that their example would encourage youths to embark on this profession.
Ms Simone Mizzi, Executive President of Din l-Art Helwa showed Dr and Ms Bartolo round the church and the small museum which is being set up. She then accompanied them above the scaffolding to show them the progress that has been achieved on the Alessio Erardi ceiling.
The Minister expressed his thanks to the Din l-Art Helwa volunteers “for working so hard to save this church.” He encouraged them to keep up the good work and to “count on him for tangible support.”