Island art : a museum dedicated to art history and the visual and decorative arts in Gozo

Abstract

This long essay puts forward a proposal for the establishment of a museum dedicated to art history and the visual and decorative arts in Gozo. A museum of Fine Arts or related material culture is, to date, missing in the range of cultural experiences on offer on the island. Chapter 1 delves into issues of demand and necessity for the museum, taking into account national strategies and policies, together with the regional characteristics of the island. The museum's roles and potential users are examined in the same chapter, making special emphasis on the museum's tourism related and educational roles. A core element of this research is the proposal for a possible public programme for the museum, consisting largely of an exhibition programme, which is considered in Chapter 2. The dedication of the museum to the visual and decorative arts was felt necessary because this is a segment of our cultural heritage which, although very much manifest on a local level, deserves better treatment and recognition, and should be better studied, conserved and made accessible to the public. In discussing the permanent exhibition programme, a focal thematic structure of the exhibition plan is put forward, proposing a central theme and a number of sub-themes emerging from it. Research on Gozo's artistic heritage was necessary to be able to propose and discuss a number of related topics which the museum may consider to interpret. Apart from the exhibition content other issues are examined, including interpretive techniques and presentation philosophies. This chapter considers further activities of the museum, together with additional spaces within the museum building which can support its mission and objectives. Modem and contemporary art have boon included in the museum's mission and mandate since it is felt that a regional museum as is being proposed here would do well to provide a holistic picture of the arts in a single building - space permitting. Chapter 3 examines the museum's collection in terms of acquisitions and operations. A local, regional perspective is considered at all times since it is clear that for the museum to be successful it should, first und foremost, take into account the environment in which it is operating, and to overcome any shortcomings in the best possible manner. Several ways via which the collections may be augmented are discussed in this section. The final component of this long essay, Chapter 4, briefly enquires into issues of location and space, and site evaluation. An assessment of Rabat - Gozo's capital - as a potential location for the museum was undertaken, taking into account tourism surveys carried out locally over the years. Finally, familiarisation with four different buildings was necessary in order to make possible a SWOT analysis of each building, stating its suitability or otherwise for the museum project. This research therefore presents a subject which has hitherto never been studied, and which is treated in its various aspects in an attempt to provide a holistic analysis as much as possible.