Malta’s upcoming museum of art, MUZA, is set to open towards the end of October, with two creative industry conferences already booked in its halls for the period. These include Valletta 2018’s Sharing the Legacy, taking place between 24th and 26th October, and the Network of European Museum Organisations’ (NEMO) 26th annual conference being organised between 15th and 18th November.
Valletta 2018
However, the precise date of the much-anticipated opening is being kept under wraps – for the time being. The delicate project to restore the former Auberge D’Italie and transform it into Malta’s newest, and hottest, addition to the cultural sphere has had its challenges, which has, inevitably, resulted in some delays. But, it seems we won’t have too long to find out the result of the detailed, and painstaking, work being carried out.
The main staircase in the main building – thought to have been demolished by the British in 1850 – was revealed during the course of work on the building, as well as the floor’s original levels. Graffiti from the times of the knights was also discovered, while parts of the roof had to be changed due to rusted beams.
Once it opens, MUZA, one of the flagship projects of Valletta 2018, will be three times larger than the existing Fine Arts Museum and will be green-powered, using renewable resources in generating its energy requirements. It will feature work from stalwarts of the local and international art scene, such as Melchiorre Gafà and Antonio Sciortino, amongst others. And MUZA has also recently announced that it has been been collaborating with professional artists to create 21 short films and videos, allowing visitors to discover these artists’ muses. We can't wait to experience them!