Din l-Art Helwa launches Into Places reciprocal membership scheme

On the occasion of World Heritage Day, which was celebrated on 18 April, Din l-Art Helwa joins the International National Trusts Organisation to launch a world-wide reciprocal visiting scheme. Under this scheme, 32 national trusts in 24 countries will collaborate so individual members of participating trusts can visit their heritage sites free of charge. Din l-Art Helwa is a founding member of Into. On presentation of a Din lArt Helwa membership card, members will be able to visit over 1,000 historic properties at no or reduced charge in England, Scotland, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and a host of other countries as far away as Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Of particular interest to Din l-Art Helwa members is access to national trust properties in England and Scotland including national parks, stately homes, fortresses and historical buildings and to the exceptional heritage sites managed by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano in Italy.

Membership cards of all participating trusts will display the Into logo. The scheme is an exciting new step taken by Into and organisations like Din l-Art Helwa to encourage public interest in heritage and places of natural beauty and co-operation between national trusts around the world. More trusts are expected to join the scheme in due course.

So, for those who are travelling, stated Din l-Art Helwa, it is important to look up the Into website on https://www.into.org/places/ and check out Places to Visit. Members of Din l-Art Helwa are reminded to take their membership card with them which has now become a passport to heritage sites around the world at no cost.

Professor Alex Torpiano, executive president of Din l-Art Helwa said: “The launch of the International ‘Into Places’ reciprocal visiting scheme comes at an excellent time after two years of difficulty for the sector. By providing further accessibility of historic sites and places of natural beauty around the world through free or reduced admission, Din l-Art Helwa and reciprocal international members can enjoy the benefits of this scheme. We hope more persons will be attracted to take up membership with Din l-Art Helwa and promote this important reciprocity.”

For more information visit www//dinlarthelwa.org/memberships

List of participating trusts

Badan Warisan Malaysia

Czech National Trust

Din l-Art Helwa – National Trust of Malta

Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen – Netherlands Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) – Italy

Herita – Belgium

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Kulturerbe Bayern – Germany

Manx National Trust – Isle of Man

National Trust of Australia

National Trust of Barbados

National Trust for Canada

National Trust for the Cayman Islands

National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland National Trust Guernsey

National Trust for Ireland – An Taisce

National Trust of Korea

National Trust Jersey

National Trust for Scotland

National Trust of Slovakia

National Trust of Tasmania

National Trust of Zimbabwe

Pro Patrimonio Foundation – Rumania

About the International National Trusts Organisation

Into is a diverse network of heritage organisations from across the globe – 85 members in 65 countries. It is united by a common approach to the conservation of world heritage – built and natural, tangible and intangible.

It facilitates the exchange of expertise, promotes best practice and shares resources to increase global capacity for heritage protection. It uses its shared knowledge to support new trusts to grow and lends its voice to key discussions in the heritage sector.

Din l-Art Helwa has been involved with Into since its inception some 15 years ago. Indeed, it was involved, through its then president Martin Scicluna in the steering committee which was charting its foundation, guided by the National Trust of England and Wales. Since then, Din l-Art Helwa has remained an active member and has retained a seat on the Board of Trustees through Simone Mizzi and now Martin Galea.

Din l-Art Helwa has recently benefited from the Into Covid scheme launched by the charity to help trusts through the pandemic as well as through exchange visits organised by Union Rempart. More recently they organised a field trip with one of the National Trust conservation experts for the Torri tal-Qbajjar project in Marsalforn.

It also organises exchanges of information and best practice through conferences, lectures, workshops, exchanges and mentoring.