EU funding for the restoration and conservation of artistic works in Maltese churches : an evaluation

Abstract

Malta has a very rich artistic, architectural and cultural heritage. This is very abundant in Maltese churches, where all these aspects are mixed together with our religion to create a beautiful interlinked socio-religious culture. This vast heritage our ancestors have left us is in great need of being maintained in good condition for us and for future generations to admire in its original state of beauty. Funds are almost always the largest problem that hinders this maintenance or restoration to take place. The objective of this dissertation is to analyze the state of conservation in which artistic works are kept in churches within the objective of determining whether or not EU funds may be applied for this cause. The study shows that Churches in Malta are kept in a moderate state of restoration. Many times, not enough restoration is carried out due to lack of funds available to church and chapel rectors. There is currently lack of information in Malta about the way EU funds may be used for restoration purposes. Even though, there are no specific EU funds directed towards restoration, there are some seventy different programmes in which one may obtain funds for restoration purposes in an indirect way. Applying for these programmes is not a simple task. It involves the preparation of voluminous and technical documents that the average individual would not be able to prepare. Thus, for churches to benefit from such funds, they need help. The ideal would be an expert employed by the Archdiocese of Malta, to whom all parishes and other churches may refer in case they feel they should benefit from EU funds. One hopes that these funds that are easily accessible and very applicable to Malta due to its rich cultural heritage, both ecclesiastical and profane, would be made use of more extensively in the coming years. This will result in heritage that is more applicable to tourists, and thus will generate more foreign income for our economy.