ICOM-Malta together with Heritage Malta is celebrating International Museums Day 2024 through the conference entitled
Documenting museums and private collections using digital tools
Conference
17th May 2024 0830hrs - 1300hrs
Book your slot!
Conference will start in
About The Event
The journey into collections documentation is fraught with difficulties and levels of documentation are oftentimes poor in almost every heritage organisation or private collection. A good and well-documented collection makes it a coherent collection and the artefacts and records become a useful tool not only for museum professionals and their patrons, keeping in mind that museums are memory institutions, but also for the private collector.
The aim of this seminar is to show the participants not only advanced digital technologies for documentation, but also simple tools which are within everyone’s reach. There will be demonstrations of documentation projects which are currently underway at Heritage Malta, the Maltese national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage.
Francesco Vella and Jacob Saliba will delve into the realm of immersive experiences with their presentation on the 4D “Islands at the Crossroads” interactive encounter, showcasing the utilization of digital twins for unparalleled immersion. Isaac Cilia Attard’s discourse on “Memories from the Dockyard” will unveil the utilization of Artificial Intelligence to empower researchers in analyzing intangible cultural heritage, charting new frontiers in preservation and understanding.
Programme
08.30 – 09.00
Registration
09.00 – 09.15
Welcome speech by Joseph Schiro`
ICOM-Malta President
09.15 – 09.30
Welcome speech by Kenneth Gambin
Chief Operating Officer, Heritage Malta
09.30 – 10.00
Preserving Identity: Digitizing Cultural Narratives for Today and Tomorrow
Presented by Yasmin Paula Cassar, Senior Executive Officer, National Inventory, Research and Archaeology Unit, Superintendence of Cultural Heritage
Safeguarding cultural heritage property requires specialised inventories to ensure the effective documentation of artefacts and their evolving historical context. Operating within the framework of the Cultural Heritage Act 2002 (as amended) (CAP 445), the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage is responsible for the compilation of a National Inventory as well as to surveil the movement and origins of artefacts for preservation purposes, consequently establishing itself as a central repository for heritage documentation. With the aid of digitization and the initiatives undertaken by institutions such as the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, we can ensure the preservation and ongoing accessibility of these narratives for future generations.
10.00 – 10.30
Using simple and advanced digital technologies for documentation
Presented by Tony Cassar, Head Digitisation, Heritage Malta
Tony Cassar, Head of the Digitisation Unit at Heritage Malta, will present on the comprehensive role and achievements of his team within the Technology and Experience Development Unit. The Digitisation Unit is tasked with digitising Malta’s national collection, including sites overland, underground, underwater, and intangible cultural heritage, as mandated by the Cultural Heritage Act. The unit also develops the national collections management system and promotes the reuse of digitised assets to enhance accessibility and audience engagement. On a European level, the Digitisation Unit represents Malta and Heritage Malta in various policy-making forums and actively participates in numerous European projects under Interreg, Horizon, COST, and Digital Europe programs. Tony will highlight how these efforts contribute to preserving and sharing Malta’s rich cultural heritage.
10.30 – 11.00
Coffee Break
11.00 – 12.15
Demonstrations by the Digitisation Unit of Heritage Malta
Presented by Dr Andrew Pace, Francesco Vella, Jacob Saliba, and Isaac Cilia Attard
The conference will feature enlightening speeches from members of the Digitization Unit, shedding light on pioneering initiatives shaping the future of museum experiences.
Dr. Andrew Pace will expound upon the revolutionary impact of eMuseum, elucidating how digitization strategies are enhancing accessibility to the national collection.
Francesco Vella and Jacob Saliba will delve into the realm of immersive experiences with their presentation on the 4D “Islands at the Crossroads” interactive encounter, showcasing the utilization of digital twins for unparalleled immersion.
Isaac Cilia Attard’s discourse on “Memories from the Dockyard” will unveil the utilization of Artificial Intelligence to empower researchers in analysing intangible cultural heritage, charting new frontiers in preservation and understanding.
12:15 - 12:30
Developing an educational digital project about MUŻA’s collection of Old Master Drawings
Presented by Krystle Farrugia, Principal Curator (MUŻA), Heritage Malta
Heritage Malta has secured an €87,000 grant from the Getty Foundation’s ‘The Paper Project’
initiative for an educational digital project centred around MUŻA’s collection of Old Master drawings. As Malta lacks specialized expertise in this field, the project will bridge this gap by creating a dedicated microsite featuring drawings dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries, including works by renowned artists such as Vittore Carpaccio and François Boucher. The online platform will cater to various audiences with informative content covering materials and techniques, provenance, schools and periods, functions, and subject matter of drawings. The project team is collaborating with international experts, other Heritage Malta departments, and with the Malta Study Center at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library which provided digitized materials for the platform. This project will also make available online images and metadata of select drawings as part of Heritage Malta’s new eMuseum platform.
12.30 – 12.45
STECCI Horizon Digitisation
Presented by Dr Saida Ibragic
STECCI is a multidisciplinary project that combines the expert knowledge and skills of conservation and conservation science, climate and environmental sciences, life sciences, social sciences, economy, creative industries, and humanities in order to overcome the challenges posed by climate change in the realm of cultural heritage.
STECCI will use state-of-the-art research equipment, digital technologies, the newest approaches in social sciences, and conservation practice excellence to achieve the set objectives based on demo cases, which will be translated and applicable beyond Europe.
12.45 – 13.00
Concluding remarks by Mr Joseph Schiro`
ICOM-Malta President
Meet Our Speakers
Yasmin Paula Cassar
Senior Executive Officer, National Inventory, Research and Archaeology Unit, Superintendence of Cultural Heritage
Jacob Saliba
Andrew pace
Francesco Vella
Isaac Cilia Attard
Book your space
Secure Your Spot: Reserve Your Place at the Malta Maritime Museum
Seats are filling quickly, and availability is becoming limited. Don’t miss out on this opportunity—reserve your space now to ensure you don’t get left behind!
