Conservation Labs open day – the importance of restoration and conservation explored

Heritage Malta is opening the doors of its Conservation Laboratories in Bighi, Kalkara, to the general public on Wednesday 2nd November. During this occasion Heritage Malta will also be launching an updated version of its membership scheme.

The open day will provide a perfect outing with a difference where families can spend quality time together gaining understanding about the importance of restoration and conservation. Heritage Malta is organising this open day midweek on a school free day as an incentive to students and parents.

Visitors on the day will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with Heritage Malta museums and sites and learn more about the invaluable work and efforts being done by the agency in ensuring a future to our past.

Heritage Malta’s Conservation Division in Bighi provides conservation-restoration, preventive conservation, and scientific diagnostic services to all museums and sites managed by the national agency. Conservation of artefacts of all materials is undertaken. These include paintings, metals, ceramics, stone, textiles, paper, books and wood.

Guided tours of the Conservation Division and information regarding the diagnostic scientific labs will be held throughout the day for groups. Doors open from 9.30am till 2pm (last admission). Admission is free.

Since 2010 the premises of Bighi, used in the past as the Royal Naval Hospital and also as a school, houses the head office of Heritage Malta, the national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage.

On this occasion Heritage Malta will take the opportunity to launch a new membership scheme aimed at boosting the number of local visitors to museums. This new membership scheme follows the recently launched Student Membership Scheme for students attending primary schools. Further to feedback gathered throughout the past few years, this new membership scheme is also taking into consideration contemporary social realities.

Membership schemes help provide vital income to fund essential conservation work, projects and ensure continued enjoyment of our sites and museums to present and future generations.