the national museum of fine arts -...
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TS|3 Malta, 12-13 March 2014 Doc 6F-TS-45
European Regional Development Fund
The National Museum of Fine Arts An Overview
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The National Museum of Fine Arts An Overview
General Overview
Organigram
Senior Curator
Curator Modern and
Contemporary
Friends of the National Museum
of Fine Arts Volunteers
Curator Early Modern Art
Interns
(up to three at any given time)
One General Hands
History • Established in 1923 as a Fine Arts Section and subsequently built from scratch. • 1923 – 1938 Anti-Colonial and Historical - Two values that motivate the section’s acquisitions policy.
(Curator – Vincenzo Bonello) • 1938 – 1947 Consolidation and Conservation - Historical parameters continue to define the section’s
acquisition’s policy. (Curator – Antonio Sciortino) • 1947 – 1957 No Curator responsible for the collection. • 1957 – 1974 Conoisseurship – Collectionism is the predominant value. First abstract works are acquired in
the late 1960’s. Contemporary art works by Maltese artists were previously not represented in the collection (Curator John Cauchi – Assistant Curator Marius Zerafa)
• 1974
The Fine Arts Section becomes the National Museum of Fine Arts with its seat at Admiralty House
• 1974 – 1989
Contemporary and Outreach - Maltese Contemporary artists exhibit regularly and their works are integrated within the museum’s permanent display (Curator Marius Zerafa)
• 1990 - 2000
Academic and Conoisseur - First comprehensive Catalogue of paintings published (paintings).
(Curator Dominic Cutajar)
• 2000 - 2007
Contemporary Art and Services - Back office developem to include a library. Contemporary art and other exhibitions get significant upgrades (Curators Theresa & Dennis Vella).
The Collection
Paintings 40% of National Collection 80 % of collection on display Highlights Mattia Preti Collection Antoine Favray Collection Bellanti Collection Challenges Works of art in ministries and government departments s
Works on Paper 30% of National Collection 3 % of collection on permanent display Highlights Malta Turner Watercolour Edward Lear Collection Old Masters Challenges In-depth study (most works are unpublished\ unstudied )
Sculpture 5% of National Collection (Sculpture) 1 % of collection on display Highlights Melchiorre Cafa Antonio Sciortino collection Challenges Uneven representation of the history of Maltese sculpture
Maps 10% of National Collection 0 % of collection on permanent display Highlights Albert Ganado Map Collection Challenges Permanent display and greater access
Silver 1% of National Collection 100% of collection on permanent display Highlights Hospitallier Silver Challenges Research Integration within the museum’s storyline
Maiolica 12% of National Collection (Maiolica) 0 % of collection on permanent display Highlights Lo Sciuto Albarello Challenges Research Integration within the museum’s storyline
Furniture 1% of National Collection 100 % of collection on permanent display Highlights Maltese furniture Challenges Research Integration within the museum’s storyline
Applied Arts 1% of National Collection 100 % of collection on permanent display Highlights Edgar Parnis Bequest Challenges Research Integration within the museum’s storyline
Use of the Collection
Acquisitions 2007-2012
Contemporary Art Fund: 2010 - 12 Some 50 modern and contemporary artworks were acquired thanks to this fund. A number of lacunae were adressed and a photographic collection establised.
Old Masters Few acquisitions (not more than 5) were affected . These adressed glaring lacunae.
Donations 2007-2012
Donation in lieu for exhibition This system gurantees a definite rate of growth for the collection.
Donations Proper Still minimal
• NGAM shall strive to rethink, develop, preserve and exhibit a significant identity collection. It shall strive to make the past relevant and meaningful to contemporary human experience.
• NGAM shall strive to take a leadership role in Euromed-based
research and scholarship through its collections and broadly promote results across society and varied audiences.
• NGAM shall strive to empower debate in the arts and stimulate
identity regeneration across all levels of society. NGAM shall provide appropriate international , national, regional platforms where such a debate can constantly happen.
National Gallery of Art – Malta (NGAM)
The Collection - Way Forward ... •Broad access to collections •Collections to reflect the requirements of the National Educational Curriculum •Euro-med – Both International and Regional at the same time •Edutainment