Vigilo People

People

Amy Sciberras

In 2012 I was appointed by Din l-Art Ħelwa as resident conservator at Our Lady of Victory church in Valletta. This was the beginning of a wonderful journey within Din l-Art Ħelwa. Since then I have worked closely with many of its members, especially with former executive president Simone Mizzi.

As resident conservator and project manager of the church until 2014, I was involved in the coordination of the initial phase of the conservation project, in the artistic conservation of the contents of the church, and in managing the relationship with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. This included reporting and advising on issues related to conservation and preventive conservation, as well as carrying out conservation-restoration treatments on wall paintings, canvas paintings, panel paintings and polychrome sculpture. I also supervised conservation works being carried out by other conservators, including students being trained in the sector, allocating the necessary training programmes and monitoring their progress, as well as helping at fundraising events, lectures and concerts.

Since then I have been consulting on conservation issues regarding the general care of the collections housed at the church and I was entrusted to conserve and restore its prestigious paintings, including works by Antoine de Favray (1706-98), Antonio Falzon (1805-65) and others.

My goal is to continue conserving the many treasures which Din l-Art Ħelwa safeguards. Through Din l-Art Ħelwa I will also continue striving to raise public awareness, especially among youths, emphasizing the importance of preserving our national patrimony to future generations. As a member of the Youth Committee of Din l-Art Helwa, together with fellow conservators, I had organised a conservation and restoration workshop held at Our Lady of Victory church in November 2013, held with the support of the Ministry of Education. The outcome of this workshop was very positive attracting over 600 visitors and many new members.

Din l-Art Ħelwa is by far one of my most treasured experiences since I embarked in the field of conservation and restoration back in 2005. My role at Din l-Art Ħelwa gave me the opportunity to widen my experience in this sector and to work alongside some of the most dedicated and professional individuals relentlessly conserving our artistic and natural heritage, as well as to work on some of the most important national treasures safeguarded by this NGO and, most important of all, to serve and give back something to the community. Being part of this professional and noble organization is truly close to my heart.

James Evans

As a young secondary school student, I was fascinated by archaeological discoveries and immediately joined the ‘school archaeological group’ set up by Mario Buhagiar. When Teenagers Din l-Art Ħelwa was formed, I became the first president of the teenagers’ committee.

When I took up teaching as a career, I became heavily involved in sports coaching which prevented me from continuing in my role at Din l-Art Ħelwa but I remained interested in its activities. So, when we had the 50th anniversary reunion of Din l-Art Ħelwa, and by then I had ceased all participation in sports, I gladly accepted the invitation to reconnect and resume volunteering with Din l-Art Ħelwa.

Now I am the warden at St Agatha’s Tower (the Red Tower) in Mellieha, and I am in my 15th year at the tower. This involves organizing the volunteers’ roster, keeping detailed accounts of takings and visitor statistics, as well as stock taking of Din l-Art Ħelwa and ‘Red Tower’ branded items that we sell at the tower. Another aspect is coordinating the cleaning and maintenance of the site. It is quite a commitment but also a huge satisfaction seeing the tower go from strength to strength.

At the Red Tower, we continually strive to enhance the overall visitor experience. The most important outcome is to meet visitors’ expectations by providing an internal ambience and appropriate material that enables visitors to interpret the tower in its Josette Cini I am the guardian of the Delimara Lighthouse. Essentially, I function as a liaison with the guests who come to stay with us in this beautiful property, tackling their requests with the aim of making their stay as pleasurable as possible. We obviously also strive to highlight the serene setting in which the lighthouse is located as well as the historical relevance of the building in which they are staying.

Our philosophy on this project orbits historical context. Visitors can also identify other historical sites and environmental features in the 360 degrees view from the roof of the tower. This requires constantly upgrading our written material and visual aids.

The tower serves to promote Din l-Art Ħelwa’s work as a voluntary organization that safeguards our nation’s heritage - the restoration and conservation of the Red Tower being a shining example of protecting historical structures. The proximity of the tower to the Foresta 2000 site and Majjistral Park also enables us to underline the role of Din l-Art Ħelwa in protecting our open spaces and the natural environment. We are also glad that we can participate in promoting Din l-Art Ħelwa ideals through school educational visits.

I find the site management aspect rewarding, particularly when it translates into high visitor numbers that in turn generates considerable and much needed income. I am proud that the Red Tower volunteers work as a team, building on what we are good at and identifying possible improvements in the way we welcome visitors and present the site to them. The interaction with visitors is also rewarding in itself, especially when they take a keen interest in the restoration and history of the tower, and also voice their admiration for the work of Din l-Art Ħelwa and its volunteers.

On a personal note, I feel that I have come round a full circle and I am proud to be associated with the Red Tower and the work of Din l-Art Ħelwa.

James Evans is a retired teacher and hockey coach

around sustainability. We are extremely proud of the fact that the funds that the property brings in are applied not only to maintaining itself, but also to other properties managed by Din l-Art Ħelwa. The work that Din l-Art Ħelwa takes on is of self-evident importance, and the resources one needs for such tasks are sizeable.

It is difficult for me to choose between the three main reasons why I put in my energy into this project. It keeps me in touch with some very interesting people who choose to be our guests, whether local or foreign visitors. Being able to give my small effort to the upkeep of our country’s heritage is extremely satisfying. Last but not least, I have to mention the enjoyment of doing this in a sustainable manner, which to me is imperative.