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Digital History: 7,500 Local Artefacts Digitised In Three Years

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Artefacts are a way of connecting the past and the present. They enable us to tell a story related to an object that has travelled through the ages.

In 2021 Heritage Malta set up a Digitisation Unit in Bighi with a scanning lab at the Malta Maritime Museum. The main aim is to digitise the broadest and most intangible cultural heritage assets entrusted to Heritage Malta for the most comprehensive possible use.

A €2 million grant through the EEA Norway Grants made this project possible. This was used to conduct the restoration work in the Maritime Museum and reach the Digitization Section in Heritage Malta with the purchase of equipment that enables the digitisation. A Collection Management System (CMS) was also set up, which allows the cataloguing of the collection.

The Minister for the National Heritage, Dr Owen Bonnici and the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Dr Chris Bonett visited Heritage Malta’s Digitisation Unit where Bonnici pointed out how digitisation ensures widespread use by present and future generations.

“Our goal was to digitise 3,600 artefacts by the end of the third year. This has been significantly exceeded with around 7,500 artefacts, which is double our target.

We will continue to keep history as an integral part of our country’s life. We will continue to give it the importance it deserves,” Minister Bonnici said.

The parliamentary secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett said that with the help of both European Funds and Norwegian Funds, investments in cultural aspects are persistent in order to ensure that the Maltese heritage is not only experienced by locals but also tourists.

“Apart from restoration works which are happening to enhance the experience at the Museum. Today we are experiencing another example of an innovative project which was funded by Norwegian Funds, which will offer a personal and interactive experience to those visiting the Maritime Museum,” he said.

Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive Officer, Noel Zammit, showed the guests around together with Anthony Cassar, who heads the unit, and other members of the agency’s top management.

Mr Zammit explained how in recent years, digital technology had enabled Heritage Malta to reach out to a broader audience than ever before, making our national collection accessible to both locals and foreigners in the comfort of their homes.

Moreover, it has paved the way towards new approaches in museology – increasing access, improving interpretation and creating enhanced visitor-centred experiences.

Anthony Cassar highlighted the fact that last summer, the unit was awarded the ISO9001 certification by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance, making it the first department within Heritage Malta to acquire this prestigious certificate

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