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THE FUTURE?

Still at the crossroads, as the European Union’s southernmost frontier in the Central Mediterranean, Malta is facing both old and new challenges. Migration is one of the latter, represented in this exhibition by a lone, ordinary yet odd-looking kids’ bouncy ball. One would not imagine seeing a bouncy ball inside a maritime museum. However this pink rubber toy ball, designed for children to play and enjoy themselves, served as a life preserver for one of the hundreds of children that today cross the Mediterranean by boat, some of them unaccompanied, in search of a better life. But many do not make it to their intended destination. Migration is not a new phenomenon in the Mediterranean, however the proportion of the current migration crisis demands that all of us dedicate some time to think about it.

ArtEfacts

Size

48cm

Date

2013

Location

Malta Maritime Museum, Third Floor

Reference Code

MMM 004750

TOURISM AND LEISURE

In medieval times, travelling was either limited to the wealthy classes, or done for religious

WE’RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT! – FISHING IN MALTA

Coastal resources have been used by mankind globally as means of economic and social development

1979: THE END OF AN ERA

The year 1979 is an important milestone in Maltese history when Britain’s military connection to

THE SECOND WORLD WAR

During the Second World War, Malta played a vital role in the Battle for the

THE ADMIRALTY DOCKYARD – THE INDUSTRIAL AGE

During the Industrial Revolution, the Royal Navy invested in Malta, building an Admiralty Dockyard and

GOLDEN AGE OF SAIL – SHIPBUILDING IN MALTA

The 19th century was the pinnacle of Maltese shipbuilding, building vessels to import material such

PATRIA LIBERATA – THE FRENCH BLOCKADE

With war in Europe spreading like wildfire, France became embroiled in a war across the

FOREIGN > LOVE AFFAIRS

By the summer of 1798, Britain and France were locked in an epic struggle which

LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ – THE FRENCH IN MALTA

Malta in 1798 went into shock. The once overlords of the island principality were overrun

PRINCIPALITY BY CORSAIRS FOR CORSAIRS

Prior to the arrival of the Order of St John in 1530, many Maltese noblemen

LEPANTO: A FINAL CLASH?

The Holy League of 1571 was not the first to band Christian forces against the

POMP, WAR AND CEREMONY

The rambata, a distinctive feature of Mediterranean galleys between the 16th and 18th centuries, represented

1565 – THE GREAT SIEGE

An island at a crossroads will eventually become involved in major conflict, and in the

SUSTAINABILITY, RECYCLING AND THE ECONOMY

The limited locally available resources of the Maltese Islands, and their huge dependency on Sicily,

ST PAUL: FATHER OF THE MALTESE NATION?

When a Moorish army broke the siege of Mdina for winter in September 1429, the

Navigation

The Mediterranean expanse, which in antiquity was defined as “The Great Sea”, has for centuries