We are delighted at the recent announcement that one of our own, Francesca Balzan, will be honoured with the prestigious Gold Medal for 2026 by the Malta Society of Arts. This practice of honouring outstanding persons in the arts reaches back to 1896 when the first Gold Medal was awarded and it continues to be awarded on an annual basis. Past recipients included our own Giovanni Bonello (2002) and artists who we have featured in our exhibitions such as Edward Caruana Dingli (1912) and Gabriel Caruana (2014). In a press release issued recently the MSA cited Francesca’s exceptional achievements and contributions to the arts. The award ceremony will take place on the 25th January, 2027.

Francesca has long been associated with Patrimonju. She was first assumed as curator to oversee the opening of Palazzo Falson to the public and to manage the Museum, which she did for 12 years during which time she published extensively, lectured frequently on Palazzo Falson and her specialist subjects and curated several exhibitions. Her 2009 book ‘Jewellery in Malta: Treasures from the Island of the Knights (1530-1798)’ was published by FPM, and went on to receive the National Book Prize for Historical research. Francesca curated FPM’s monumental jewellery exhibition ‘Vanity, Profanity and Worship – Jewellery from the Maltese Islands’ held at the Casino Maltese in 2013. In later years she was engaged as senior executive with FPM and was entrusted with the Notarial Registers Archive project which included designing a new museum for the Archive. After this, Francesca decided to pursue her art on a full time basis so FPM continued its collaboration with her by appointing her for a term on the Board of Governors of FPM as well as engaging her to create a podcast series during the pandemic. ‘Treasures from Malta’ was very well received and ran into four seasons. In recent years she has been commissioned, together with Caroline Tonna, to co-art direct two exhibitions for FPM. The first,  ‘Curious Beauty: An Alternative Costume Exhibition’ was held in 2024 at Palazzo Falson to great acclaim, even making it to finalist in the National Art Prize. The second exhibition is forthcoming and will be held once again at Palazzo Falson, in 2027 and will feature antique jewellery.

Upon being contacted Francesca said ‘I am deeply honoured by this award but I would have never achieved all I did had Patrimonju not provided me with a platform, enabling me to publish my research and entrusting me with the management of Palazzo Falson, as well as offering me several other projects and positions.’

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