Heritage Malta has launched an EU Funded project for education and training in preservation skills, wood conservation and restoration and conservation science. The launch took place at Heritage Malta’s Institute of Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage (ICMCH) at Bighi in Kalkara.

Present for the launch were Dr Luciano Mule’ Stagno, Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Malta, Dr Martina Caruana, Chief Officer of ICMCH and Project Leader, Joe Chircop, Project Executive, Dr Claire Baluci and other internal stakeholders, as well as representatives of the project partners.

The project partners are the Employment and Training Corporation, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the Malta Qualifications Council, the National Council of Woman and the M2ADL University of Bologna.

During the launch Dr Caruana explained that one of the aims of the project is to provide the framework and training that will lead to work in the cultural heritage conservation-restoration sector with particular emphasis on wood and furniture.

It will also develop and provide education and training opportunities for unskilled workers as well as reskilling of employed and unemployed persons. Furthermore it will provide postgraduate research and education opportunities for specialization in conservation science whilst providing resources to educators, researchers and students thus developing the human resources required to assist the cultural heritage sector.

Dr Mule’ Stagno said that this project which has a value of over Euro 500,000, 85% of which is funded by the European Social Fund 2007 – 2013 is important for Malta as the island’s material cultural heritage demand a specialized workforce to ensure that it is conserved, restored and maintained to standards established in international conventions to which Malta is signatory. He said that such objects and structures are found in museums, palaces and churches as well as private collections and in private historic residences.

ICMCH runs undergraduate and postgraduate academic courses in the field of conservation together with the University of Malta and vocational courses organised in conjunction with MCAST. In addition, the Institute also offers a number of short courses available to the general public. An open day is being held at Heritage Malta’s Institute and Conservation Division in Bighi on Sunday 31st May during which the public will be able to tour the various areas of the institute as well as participate in several tailor-made activities.

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