March 8, 2024
This year was primarily marked by FPM’s move to its new home at APS HOUSE, 275 St Paul Street, Valletta. The palazzo underwent a complete overhaul - a full renovation of the building with the addition of state-of-the-art museum lightening and security systems. Aside from the administrative offices, the building will house the permanent collection of Victor Pasmore that will be set up early next year. Other areas of the gallery will host rotating exhibitions showcasing the work of Malta’s most significant 20th century artists, and other events such as lectures, book launches and so forth. This has only been possible after an agreement was reached with APS Bank, a long-time supporter of Malta’s heritage, for use of their former head office. The generous financial contribution of the Malta Airport Foundation was also dedicated to the restoration and renovation of the Victor Pasmore Gallery.
A new website for the gallery was launched in March and the new premises opened in September with the exhibition In Search of Line that had been 3 years in the making. The exhibition, that shows a selection of Maltese modern masters as well as some by Pasmore himself, was well attended and has in fact been extended into 2024.
In November, the Notarial Registers Archive Museum, designed by FPM, was inaugurated together with the EU funded project of the rehabilitation of the Notarial Registers Archive (NRA). Our readers will recall that in 2020 Patrimonju Museum Operators Ltd successfully concluded the tender for the services of a Museum Development Consultant at the NRA, Valletta which had commenced in 2018. This tender focused primarily on the design of a Museum for the NRA, together with a long-term plan for the running of this museum.
Our publications department saw the well-loved Treasures of Malta published 3 times a year as well as Theresa Vella’s book Splendour and Devotion: The Art Collections of the Order of St John that was published in April to much acclaim. Our podcast series that many avid listeners greatly looked forward to, came to an end in March after 4 entertaining seasons of interesting guests interviewed by Francesca Balzan.
Palazzo Falson was a winner of the Experts Choice Award 2023 which represents the world’s best hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. Throughout the year they organised tours, lectures and events open to the public as well as a series of workshops for children. Six international interns worked in the museum over the year digitising archives, museum hosting and so forth. Various research projects were completed and more of the museum’s paintings were restored. 2023 has been an extremely eventful year for us and we are looking forward to carrying this momentum into 2024. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all our supporters who make this possible.
Joe Grioli
Chairman
Read our full monthly review for 2023 here
APS House
275, St Paul Street
Valletta
Malta
+356 21244777
info@patrimonju.org