Analysing the Heritage Malta passport scheme

Abstract

This dissertation analyses the Heritage Malta Passport Scheme and the impact of increased accessibility or otherwise to museum admission. As part of this research, the researcher recruited sixteen museum staff members & ten student guardians to participate in a fifteen-minute-long online-questionnaire about the Heritage Malta Passport Scheme. Based on the replies of these questionnaires, this research was able to analyse & compare the participants' perception towards this cultural passport. To present a more detailed analysis, this study made use of secondary data, namely press releases, annual reports & local news articles. Additionally, this study also made reference to two UK national museum groups in an effort to compare the accessibility strategies of different museum institutions with that of the Heritage Malta Passport Scheme. From the gathered primary & secondary data, this research concluded that Heritage Malta through the implementation of this cultural passport was able to find a creative museum accessibility strategy which overcomes the financial barrier of museum admission fees. As expressed by the research participants, this cultural scheme was able to make Maltese national museums more accessible to families. Nevertheless, as illustrated from the responses of the student guardians, it is evident that there are still a number of students who have yet to benefit from the opportunities offered by this programme.