Preserving the past

Andrea Faye Christians meets Joseph Schiro, Head of Conservation at Heritage Malta, and his team, who are busy restoring our national treasures. In 2002, Heritage Malta was created through the enactment of the Cultural Heritage Act, replacing the former Museums Department and assuming the role of national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage. In 2005 the agency was also charged with the takeover of the former Malta Centre for Restoration which has now become a centre of excellence for teaching, training and research as well as the conservation and restoration of Malta’s national treasures. I meet Head of Conservation at Heritage Malta Joseph Schiro at the old Bighi military hospital in Kalkara. Schiro explains that in a way, this historical site is still a hospital, but now it is ailing historic pieces that are under its care rather than people. It is an interesting and fascinating analogy. Nowadays, restoration is high-tech stuff. There are three laboratories and each requires its own area of expertise. All members of the restoration team are highly trained. The minimum qualification level is a first degree, but many have read for post-grad degrees and...