Vigilo Short News

Commemorating Din l-Art Ħelwa’s 55th anniversary

The Council and some Din l-Art Ħelwa volunteers gathered at Bir Miftuħ in July 2020 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the organisation. Din l-Art Ħelwa was founded on 9 July 1965 by Judge Maurice Caruana Curran and a group of persons who loved and wanted to protect Malta’s heritage. This mission has been faithfully continued by the many volunteers, helpers, members and sponsors which the organisation has been honoured and proud to have over the last 55 years. Unfortunately it was not possible to hold the usual anniversary dinner this year due to the Covid pandemic. A Mass was held in the grounds of the chapel at Bir Miftuħ. This was followed by a small reception.

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Goodbye to two long-standing volunteers

Brian Sly and Bill Clarke spent the past nine years volunteering at the Red Tower, and are now returning back home to the UK. Sadly for all of us, we must say goodbye. Brian had started the popular ‘Sunset Evenings’ at the tower together with his wife Janice who has sadly passed away since. Executive President Alex Torpiano presented Bill and Brian with a set of ‘Heritage Saved’ prints depicting Din l-Art Ħelwa sites – of course with one of them being the Red Tower. He thanked them for their years of dedication and service to the organisation, and wished them all the best for their future.

Luke Azzopardi Fashion Show at Bir Miftuħ

In the recently restored frescoes at Bir Miftuħ, local designer Luke Azzopardi found inspiration for his latest collection ‘The Tree of Life’. Using Bir Miftuħ as a backdrop, elements of the chapel were present in the project from set curation to print design. While a physical event for guests was not held, a digital version was relayed instead. The collection was unveiled on 2 September 2020. Presented as a virtual presentation which was filmed on site, the fashion show was a reworking of references from the period, borrowed from the architecture and the building’s history. The project was supported by Arts Council Malta through their project support grant, and was carried out in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa, the Malta Airport Foundation, Ecabs, and Camilleri Paris Mode Ltd.

Compagnia di San Michele Re-enactment at the Red Tower

On Sunday 27 September, the re-enactment group Compagnia San Michele staged a day of activities at the newly restored St Agatha Tower, or the ‘Red Tower’, in Mellieha. Guards wearing period costumes stood watch on the tower roof as they did in the seventeenth century, alert in case of signals from the nearby Santa Marija Tower on the island of Comino. Reenactors depicting Maltese country people sheltered outside the tower, preparing food as well as carrying out other activities such as sewing. Tours of the tower were held explaining the coastal defence strategy of the Order of St John, and the day concluded with a demonstration of the military drills of tower guardsmen and their equipment, including blackpowder firearms.

European Heritage Day Open days at the Garden of Rest

In collaboration with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, a two-day event was held at the Garden of Rest in Floriana between 3 and 4 October 2020, when the garden was opened from 9 am to 3 pm. A total of 18 volunteers were involved in this activity, including students. The activities on offer included ‘stone rubbing’ where visitors were able to make copies of inscriptions, patterns and symbols from gravestones and memorials. Books, including melitensia publications generously donated to Din l-Art Ħelwa by the Superintendence, were on sale.

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Wedding at the Red Tower

Awedding was held at the Red Tower in September 2020. The tower’s roof provided a gorgeous setting for this delightful occasion.

Open day at Wignacourt Tower

An open day was also held at the Wignacourt Tower in St Paul’s Bay on 8 August 2020, with Din l-Art Ħelwa volunteers welcoming the public back to the tower after a period of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Support from the Alfred Mizzi Foundation

recently appealed for assistance due to a sharp drop in income with scarce tourist arrivals and visitors to the many historic sites it looks after, and with all fund-raising efforts diminished by the Covid-19 pandemic. Chairman of The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, Mr Julian Sammut said the Foundation was happy to offer assistance with a monetary contribution and also presented a motor vehicle which will be used by the Din l-Art Ħelwa maintenance team. Din l-Art Ħelwa Treasurer Martin Scicluna accepted this as a much-needed replacement to the organisation's 15-year-old van and thanked The Alfred Mizzi Foundation for its constant commitment. The presentation took place in front of Our Lady of Victory church in Valletta, a masterpiece being restored by Din l-Art Ħelwa, a project also supported by The Alfred Mizzi Foundation.

GUDJA TOMBS PUNIC FINDS ON DISPLAY AT BIR MIFTUH CHURCH

Also in collaboration with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, and with the newly formed Heritage Group SKALI Gudja, visitors were invited to view the recent finds from Punic tombs at Gudja on display at the Church of Santa Marija of Bir Miftuh on Saturday 3 October 2020. Activities included workshops and pottery washing in the grounds of the chapel on the day, with volunteers

The Alfred Mizzi Foundation rallied to the support of Din l-Art Ħelwa after the organisation from SKALI and Din l-Art Ħelwa in attendance.

Julian Sammut, Chairman of The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, during the presentation to Martin Scicluna Din l-Art Ħelwa Treasurer