Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici, have inaugurated MUZA, Malta’s new museum of art at Auberge d’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta
In a statement, the Ministry said that this new national museum of art in Malta is a flagship project for the European Capital of Culture- Valletta 2018 and is pioneered by Heritage Malta.
MUZA – whilst being an acronym and the Maltese word for inspiration, is also a clear reference to the muses – the mythological creatures from classic antiquity inspiring creativity, the Ministry said.
Speaking during the inauguration the Prime Minister said, “MUZA is a gift to Malta in the occasion of Valletta 2018 as the European Capital of Culture. A gift for everyone. A gift for our children who as from this year will be able to bring their parents and it will be the children that will provide their parents with a free entry, not the other way round.”
He added, “now, we have a place in our Capital City, which truly does justice to our culture scene as a people, despite being the smallest Nation State in the European Union and also one of the smallest around the world.”
The ambitious €10 million project partially financed through EU funds was commended by Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici.
He stated, “this building is a real-life testament of our vision and legacy, which we wish to pass on to future generations.”
The Ministry said that the extensive rethinking and rebranding of MUZA was announced in December 2013. “MUZA seeks to adopt and purposely develop a participatory museum model for the arts, with particular reference to its national museum remit.”
It went on to explain that MUZA aims to empower participants to experience, engage and co-create irrespective of knowledge levels, turning traditional museum audiences into participants. “MUZA seeks to be a significant community asset promoting social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, creativity and inspiration.”
The story content of MUZA can be classified in four parts, Mediterranean, Europe, Empire, and the Artist. The museum’s collection has well over 20,000 works of art.
This museum runs on a new green-powered energy efficient infrastructural system to optimise the passive energy efficient features present in the historical building.
Photograph: DOI/Kevin Abela