Dr Sandro Debono has been recently honoured by the French government with the title of ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ for his outstanding contribution to arts and culture as a tool to foster Franco-Maltese relations. 

The conferment was held at the official residence of the French Ambassador in Malta and presided by H.E. Ambassador Agnès Von der Mühll, French Ambassador to Malta. This prestigious honour is awarded by the French Ministry of Culture to personalities around the world in recognition of their significant contribution to the arts. 

Dr Debono has been active with national heritage institutions for the past 25 years. He has contributed to and curated major international exhibitions in Malta, Brussels and Italy. He has led the rethinking of the National Museum of Fine Arts into Malta’s national community art museum - MUŻA, also informed by his PhD thesis presented at University College London. He is the national representative at the European Museum Academy and founding member of We Are Museums Lab, an international platform for museum change makers and innovators based in Paris. He has recently also joined the international advisory board of the Anchorage Museum, Alaska U.S.A. besides other advisory roles with companies and startups in the cultural heritage and museum industry, particularly in Italy. 

Dr Debono is a visiting lecturer at the Department of Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education and other University of Malta Institutes and Departments. He is also culture advisor to the Office of the President of Malta.