10, St George’s Square, Victoria, Gozo, Malta w. heartofgozo.org.mt
t. +356 21557504
e. info@heartofgozo.org.mt / events@heartofgozo.org.mt facebook.com/heartofgozo
instagram: hagar_heartofgozo
Il-Ħaġar | Heart of Gozo Museum and Cultural Centre, situated in Victoria, strives to present visitors with an authentic experience of the Gozitan heritage and Christian culture that form this island community. The Centre tells the story of Gozo through its people, their beliefs, skills, and creations.
Founded by Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria, a voluntary organisation established in 1998, Il-Ħaġar was realised through local crowdfunding and contributions from corporate entities and individuals, alongside European Regional Development Fund support under the 2007-2013 Cohesion Policy. Officially opened in 2013, the Centre preserves the artistic and historical legacy of St George’s Basilica, complemented by donations such as Prof. Joseph Vella’s (1942–2018) complete body of work spanning over 60 years.
Operated entirely by volunteers, Il-Ħaġar remains a hub for cultural and artistic events in Gozo, hosting exhibitions, lectures, and community initiatives. Its volunteer team includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, from students to retirees. The Centre’s own publication series, IlĦaġar Gems, has grown to over 31 editions.
In December 2023, Il-Ħaġar received the National Cultural Heritage Award by Arts Council Malta. The Centre is fully accessible and seeks to expand its offerings for individuals with special needs, encouraging all forms of support in this area.
Foreword
Since opening its doors in 2013, Il-Ħaġar Museum has never been a static museum, and we never wanted it to be. For over almost twelve years, we have hosted hundreds of events, from exhibitions to talks, book launches, recitals, workshops, and guided tours. For this new season, we thought it ideal to gather our upcoming events and announce them periodically for our ever-growing number of patrons, supporters, and followers.
This programme, covering October to December, is packed with diverse offerings. As you will see, the topics of talks range from astrology to decorative arts, gastronomy, and national history. A highlight is a special conference marking three significant milestones in our country’s modern history: 60 years of Independence, 50 of the Republic, and 20 of EU membership. We will also be hosting four concerts, a commemorative event, two children’s workshops, and most notably, The Annunciation: The Itinerary of Hope through Iconography, an exhibition coordinated by Valerio Ballotta of GBK Malta. This extraordinary display brings together works by some of the most important European masters centred on this profound mystery – definitely a first for the Maltese islands.
In a time of global turbulence that is closer to us than we might think, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, we believe that art, culture, and beauty offer essential means for reflection and understanding. Despite the packed schedule, we see this programme as a necessary space for solace and shared experience. We look forward to welcoming you in the coming days, weeks, and months.
Joseph Borg
Administrative Council President Il-Ħaġar Museum
exHIbItIon
Lost Paradise
Henry Alamango and Galina Troizky
6 September 2024 - 10 November 2024
Lost Paradise is a joint exhibition by Henry Alamango and Galina Troizky, and features no fewer than 41 paintings. The title chosen for this exhibition – Lost Paradise – evokes the famous epic poem Paradise Lost by English poet John Milton and explores the concept of continuously searching for a “paradise” elsewhere while remaining blind to the “paradise” in the here and now. In this pursuit, our roots, family, community, identity, and culture are irrevocably sacrificed in the mad desire for a “lost paradise”.
The exhibition reflects a reality with which most viewers will be intimately familiar. Yet, the exhibits invite an inner examination of our pursuit of what we perceive as the “good” life - the paradise we yearn for but might already have at our disposal, if only we were not too distracted or disoriented to truly appreciate it.
Lost Paradise was inaugurated on the 6th of September 2024 and runs until the 10th of November 2024. Admission to Il-Ħaġar is free.
PuBlic talk
Of Seas and Stars: A History of Celestial Navigation
Prof. Joseph Caruana
5 October 2024 │ 11:00
Humankind has been traversing the seas long before history started to be written. An enduring challenge through the ages was the matter of accurately finding one’s position at sea. This problem presented a tough nut to crack, attracting some of the brightest minds to bear on finding a solution. In this talk, Prof. Joseph Caruana from the Department of Physics and the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy at the University of Malta will be telling the story of how the celestial intersected with the maritime in myriad cultures over a great many century - enabling powerful navies to roam the seas, empires to expand their reach, and incredible stories to be recorded. From mythology to science, from works of art to fascinating navigational instruments, this talk will unravel the tale of surmounting one of the most formidable problems in exploration.
Prof. Joseph Caruana read for a joint honours B.Sc. in physics and mathematics at the University of Malta (UM) and carried out his doctoral research in astrophysics at the University of Oxford. At Christ Church, Oxford, he tutored General Relativity and Cosmology. In 2012 he took up a postdoctoral research position in astrophysics at the Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik (AIP) in Potsdam, Germany. In 2016 he joined the Department of Physics and the Institute of Space Sciences & Astronomy at UM, where he lectures on optics, astrophysics and cosmology, and the philosophy of science. His main research interests encompass the early universe, galaxy formation and evolution, galactic dynamics, and the history of astronomy. At UM he initiated a light pollution research group, leading an ongoing night sky brightness monitoring effort, with a particular focus on light pollution’s effects upon the environment, ecology, and human health. He is also interested in the application of statistical methods and mathematical models to hyperbaric medicine. Joseph is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and a member of the European Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union
This talk is being held in collaboration with the University of Malta’s Department of Physics and the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy.
Seat reservations: events@heartofgozo.org.mt
PuBlic talk
Neolithic Malta
What we have, what we lost, and what we could lose!!
Daniel Cilia
Friday 11 October 2024 │ 19:30
In this talk, Gozitan photographer Daniel Cilia takes us on a journey through Malta’s Neolithic period. Drawing on decades of experience and a passion for storytelling, Daniel’s photographs have captivated readers in numerous books about the Maltese Islands, their history, culture, and beauty. His keen eye for detail and deep understanding of his subjects make his presentations both informative and visually stunning, showcasing Malta’s rich prehistoric heritage. This presentation will explore all of Malta’s Neolithic sites, those that have been lost, and the current threats to the preservation of those still standing. Through his lens, he invites the audience to rediscover these ancient wonders and reflect on their significance for future generations.
Daniel Cilia LRPS, born in 1963 in Gozo, Malta, is a self-taught photographer who began his career at age thirteen. His work is distinguished by his focus on how light shapes our perception of everyday life. Since his first major exhibition in 1986, he has exhibited in over 50 exhibitions worldwide. He was awarded the Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society in 1986 and held key teaching positions in Florence. Specialising in editorial photographic design, he has contributed to 152 books about Malta, with his photography featured extensively. In 2024, he was honoured as an Officer of the Order pro Merito Melitensi by the Hospitaller Order of St John.
This talk is being held in collaboration with the Malta Historical Society.
Art critic Prof. Louis Lagana will interview artists Henry Alamango and Galina Troizky about the inspiration and ideas behind their current exhibition at Il-Ħaġar, Lost Paradise. They will share how paradise is a subjective construct - an emotional tapestry of landscapes, community, and culture, tied to our roots and identity. While nostalgia and imagination fuel this connection, paradise often goes unrecognised until it’s lost. The exhibits explore personal and collective visions of paradise, the longing for a better elsewhere, and the realisation that what we seek may have existed in the familiar places and people we left behind.
Henry Alamango is a self-taught artist whose love for nature is deeply rooted in his Mediterranean upbringing, especially the Maltese Islands. His figurative art features warm light, stone, and vibrant scenery. Preferring water-based mediums, he also experiments with inks, acrylics, pastels, and gesso, often portraying contemporary street life.
Galina Troizky was born in Moscow and trained in applied art and fashion design. She has lived between Berlin and Gozo since 2003. Her internationally exhibited art explores the tension between individuals and rapid urban transformation, reflecting her concern over the relentless destruction of architectural environments in the race for modernity.
commemoratiVe eVent
Frank Mercieca: A Friend of Nature and Literature
John Cremona, BrassTubes Ensemble
Saturday 19 October 2024 │ 11:00
A dairy foreman by profession, Frank Mercieca was born in Victoria on the 30th of August 1937. He studied in Malta, Lebanon, Estonia, Scotland, and Denmark. Later in life, he dedicated himself to agriculture and the study of the Maltese language. He wrote numerous articles in local papers debating recent changes in Maltese orthography and grammar. He also wrote poetry. A key figure in St George’s Square, Mercieca was always surrounded by an attentive group of friends debating current affairs, history...and, of course, the Maltese language. He passed away on the 9th of November 2011.
Anti-Doping and Competition Manipulation Awareness
Andy Grech
Tuesday 22 October 2024 │ 18:30
In this talk, Andy Grech, Head of Education and Policy at the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AIMS), will delve into the critical issues of anti-doping and competition manipulation in sports. Doping involves the use of banned substances or methods to artificially enhance athletic performance, violating the integrity of sport and jeopardising athletes’ health. Similarly, competition manipulation refers to any act designed to improperly influence the outcome of a sporting event, often for personal, financial, or political advantage. These practices severely undermine fair competition and the core values of sport. This lecture will explore the impact of these unethical behaviours on the sporting world and discuss strategies to protect the integrity of competitions.
Grech is pursuing a career in Sport Policy, Management, and International Development. With a focus on addressing contemporary challenges in sports management, Andy supports governing bodies in their efforts to shape sporting opportunities and align sport with broader social policy objectives.
This event is being held in collaboration with Victoria Hotspurs FC and the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AIMS).
Seat reservations: events@heartofgozo.org.mt
PuBlic talk
Bread and Bakers in Eighteenth-Century Malta
Dr Noel Buttigieg
Saturday 2 November 2024 │ 11:00
Bread was the most basic means of survival for the majority of early modern society. Like other Mediterranean communities, the eighteenth-century Maltese population was profoundly dependent on the acquisition, distribution, processing, and consumption of bread. The strict reliance of the Maltese archipelago on grain imports from Sicily is best illustrated by the complexities surrounding the efficient distribution of grain supplies. Beyond the well-known political intrigues and economic negotiations related to grain acquisition, this public talk by Dr Noel Buttigieg will delve into the grain-bread cycle, exploring various aspects of bakers’ activities that have so far gone unnoticed.
Dr Buttigieg is a senior lecturer and academic researcher at the Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture at the University of Malta. He has published several articles on food culture and heritage. He co-authored the book L-Istorja tal-Kultura tal-Ikel f’Malta (2004), Tisjir mill-Qalb (2016 and 2017), and is the co-editor of The Struggle for Supremacy: The Mediterranean World in 1453 and Beyond (2018) and Food as ‘Voice’ (2020). Earlier this year, he authored Bread and Bakers in Eighteenth-Century Malta (2024). Dr Buttigieg is currently Vice President of the Malta Historical Society and a council member of the Sacra Militia Foundation.
This talk is being held in collaboration with Midsea Books Ltd and Klabb Kotba Maltin.
Seat reservations: events@heartofgozo.org.mt
Panel discussion
Milestones of Nationhood
Celebrating Malta and Gozo’s 60 years of Sovereignty, 50 years as a Republic, and 20 years of EU Accession
Saturday 9 November 2024 │ 11:00
Introduction: Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
Panelists: Her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President Emeritus of Malta
Professor Lino Briguglio, economist and academic
Professor Joseph Pirotta, academic and researcher
Simone Azzopardi, academic and Ph.D. candidate
Moderator: Steve Mallia, former Sunday Times of Malta editor
This event aims to reflect on these three milestones in our nation’s recent history from a historical perspective, examining how they have developed, where our nation stands today, and the way forward.
Admission is free, but seat reservations are recommended by sending an email to events@heartofgozo.org.mt.
Il-Ħaġar Museum, in collaboration with GBK Malta Ltd, is presenting an extraordinary exhibition as part of its cultural programme for this year that will bring together a remarkable collection of works depicting the mystery of the Annunciation by European masters spanning from the late Gothic period through the Renaissance and into the Baroque era. Among the featured artists are Albrecht Dürer, Michael Wolgemut, Lucas Cranach, Crispin van de Broeck, Maarten van Heemskerck, Nicolas Beatrizet, Federico Barocci, Cornelis Cort, Adrian Collaert, Jacques Callot, Sebastien Bourdon, Alessandro Mochetti, Pietro Liberi, Giuseppe Bossi, and Maestro Del Dado. This unique exhibition is coordinated by Valerio Ballotta of GBK (Malta) Ltd. Admission is free.
tHe tHIrd Pawlu MIzzI MeMorIal lecture
Eclecticism and the Baroque Revival in the Decorative Arts in Malta
Mark Sagona
Saturday 16 November 2024 │ 11:00
The title of this public lecture is shared with that of the latest volume in the Studies in Central Mediterranean Decorative Arts scholarly series (Mark Sagona, Anthony Gatt, Tessa Murdoch and Roderick O’Donnell), published by Midsea Books in collaboration with the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta (2024). The lecture focuses on one of the most remarkably rich episodes in the extraordinary and profuse story of the decorative arts in Malta: the years straddling the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and discusses the prevalence of Eclecticism and Baroque Revival currents during the height of British colonial domination. It celebrates the island’s most gifted native designer of the fin-de-siècle, Abramo Gatt (1863-1944), on the eightieth anniversary of his death. There were several Maltese designers who reflected the European predilection for such design solutions, but the oeuvre of Gatt is surely the most emblematic of this fascinating era, and it brilliantly captures the design mood of the epoch, especially in the context of the ecclesiastical decorative arts.
Mark Sagona, Ph.D., is Head of the Department of Art and Art History, Faculty of Arts, University of Malta, where he lectures in Art History and Fine Arts. His research has focused primarily on the nineteenth century, with a particular interest in the Decorative Arts in Malta within their international context. Sagona has researched, lectured and published widely on the subject, including in several editions of The Journal of the Decorative Arts Society of London (2015, 2021), Revivals (ICOM-ICDAD, 2022) and more recently in Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide (NCAW, 2024). His latest publications include Eclecticism and the Baroque Revival in the Decorative Arts in Malta (with Anthony Gatt, Tessa Murdoch, Roderick O’Donnell, Midsea Books, 2024), International Perspectives on the Decorative Arts: Nineteenth-century Malta (as editor, Midsea Books, 2021), and Identity of an Island –Gozo: Art between past and present (as editor, Teatru Astra and Midsea Books, 2022). He has also participated in international conferences convened by the Universita’ degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (2021), the Universita’ degli Studi di Palermo (2023) and the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Decorative Arts and Design (ICDAD) in Lisbon (2023). Mark Sagona is also a practising visual artist and curator.
Pawlu Mizzi (1929-2019)
A Maltese patriot, Gozitan scholar, trailblazer in the modern interpretation of Gozo’s history, and pioneer in the publication of Maltese books, Pawlu Mizzi was born in Victoria on the 28th of October 1929. Mizzi’s long career spanned roles from teacher to scriptwriter and presenter of TV programmes on Gozo, eventually becoming managing director of Il-Ħajja. He also founded and served as general editor of Heritage, an encyclopaedia of Maltese heritage, culture, and civilisation. However, Mizzi is perhaps best remembered for founding, in 1970, Klabb Kotba Maltin, the home of Maltese books, and later Midsea Books Ltd. Mizzi was awarded the Medal for Service to the Republic in 1992. He passed away on the 5th of August 2019.
Inauguration of Frank Mizzi’s Iconic Nativity Crib
Friday 22 November 2024 │ 19:30
Those of us Gozitans in our late twenties and older may remember visiting Frank Mizzi’s iconic nativity crib during Christmas time, which was on display in an exhibition space annexed to his house in Fountain Street, just off Saint Augustine’s Square. Those who do will probably recall that Christmas was not complete without a visit to this crib. It is a large crib, one that visitors can walk around, and a proper visit, accompanied by the commentary, would easily take around 20 minutes. Frank Mizzi started building his unique Christmas crib around 40 years ago, and it has remained a work in progress ever since, with new features added over the years. In 2019, Mizzi, now in his eighties, decided to donate this unique work of art to Il-Ħaġar Museum. The crib was transferred from Mizzi’s house to the museum, where it was rebuilt by a team of volunteers under Mizzi’s supervision, and where it will be on permanent display in the museum’s newly developed lower ground floor. Work on the surrounding area, part of which will be interactive, is still in progress but will be finalised in the coming months. This project has been co-financed by the Gozo Action Group Foundation through the LEADER programme.
The history of Naples is dotted with priests enchanted by the Mystery of Christmas, including saints like Cajetan of Thiene, Joseph Calasanzio, and Alphonse Maria De’ Liguori. In this talk, which builds on one the speaker gave at Il-Ħaġar last year, Mgr Dr Vella will explore the evolution and cult of the Neapolitan crib, with particular reference to three main elements - light, form, and colourwhich, fused together, reveal the infinite love of God towards humanity, to the point of taking human form and being born poor among the poor, to redeem all in the same manner: the rich, the powerful, the underprivileged, the marginalised, the afflicted, the suffering, the downtrodden. This form of craftsmanship, of the highest artistic value, has always attracted a wide variety of personalities: from princes to sovereigns, bankers to merchants, prelates to humble priests, and devotees to unbelievers. Above all, it has created a dazzling, fable-like atmosphere that enchants both adults and children, allowing them to experience a moment of paradise.
A leading expert on cribs, Mgr Dr Vella was instrumental in introducing the Neapolitan Crib to Malta through various exhibitions. He is the curator of the Mdina Cathedral Museum and secretary for the Commission for Catholic Cultural Heritage, overseeing all restoration projects carried out locally. Notable among his publications are his doctoral thesis, Treasures of Faith, and An Eighteenth-century Neapolitan Crib in Malta.
Seat reservations, by sending an email to events@heartofgozo.org.mt, are encouraged.
recital
Harp and Wind Trio
Noel Beck (Clarinet), Fiorella Camilleri (Flute), Anne Marie Camilleri Podestà (Harp)
Sunday 1 December 2024 │ 19:30
The festive season kicks off in style at Il-Ħaġar as clarinettist Noel Beck, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra sub-principal flute/piccolo chair Fiorella Camilleri, and MPO harpist Anne Marie Camilleri Podestà will perform Elizabeth Poston and Howard Blake’s Trios for Flute, Clarinet, and Harp, along with other works by Claude Debussy, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, John Williams, and Christopher Beck.
Admission is free but seat reservations, by sending an email to events@heartofgozo.org.mt, are recommended.
luncHtIMe concert
Joy to the World!
Gozo VPA School Ensemble
Saturday 7 December 2024 │ 11:00
Since the very first Christmas after Il-Ħaġar Museum opened its doors in 2013, the Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School, formerly known as the Gozo School of Music, has presented a concert at the museum each December. During this concert, students, under the guidance of their respective music teachers and often accompanied by them, will perform a selection of festive music individually, in small groups, and as an ensemble. It is part of the museum’s ethos to provide our younger generations with a platform to present themselves publicly, and this lunchtime concert, the first in a series of three on consecutive Saturdays, has always been well-attended and eagerly anticipated.
Admission is free.
luncHtIMe concert
Christmas Brass!
BrassTubes Ensemble
Saturday 14 December 2024 │ 11:30
For the sixth consecutive year, popular Gozitan band BrassTubes, conducted by Mark Gauci, performs a selection of all-time favourite brass classics for the festive season. This much-anticipated concert, which has become a staple in the museum’s Christmas programme, promises to delight audiences of all ages with its vibrant renditions and festive cheer.
Admission is free.
luncHtIMe concert
In Dulci Jubilo!
Laudate Pueri Choir
Saturday 21 December 2024 │ 11:30
The Laudate Pueri Choir of St George’s Basilica, directed by Rev. Can. George Joseph Frendo and led by Prof. Maria Frendo, will maintain its annual tradition, held every Saturday before Christmas, of presenting a concert featuring some of the best-loved Christmas carols in various languages. Most of the carols and motets have been arranged by David Willcocks and Joseph Vella for four female voices, with the latter’s arrangements specifically made for the Laudate Pueri Choir.
Mulled wine will be offered at the end of the concert, accompanied by the exchange of Christmas wishes.
Admission is free.
cHIldren’s and students’ worksHoPs
Young Creatives
Drawing from the Masters
Victor Agius
Friday 27 December 2024
11:00: Age group 6-8 years
13:00: Age group 9-12 years
Gozitan artist and art educator Victor Agius will be leading two hands-on workshops for children and young students, offering an engaging dialogue with Il-Ħaġar Museum’s unique temporary exhibition, The Annunciation, coordinated by Valerio Ballotta of GBK Malta Ltd. The first workshop, for children aged 6-8, runs from 11:00 to 12:30, while the second, aimed at students aged 9-15, takes place from 13:00 to 14:30. Participants will be guided through a collection of artworks by renowned European masters, including Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, Maarten van Heemskerck, and Federico Barocci, spanning the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, that are on temporary display at Il-Ħaġar. Children and students will then be encouraged to interpret these works in their sketchbooks. These workshops offer a creative exploration of art history, colour, and storytelling.
Reservations are essential: events@heartofgozo.org.mt
uPcoMInG teMPorary exHIbItIons
Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia (1852-1925)
Orator - Composer - Architect
From the 1st of February, 2025, to the 31st of March, 2025
* * *
Transitions
Norbert Francis Attard
From the 5th of April, 2025, to the 22nd of June, 2025
* * *
Carmelo Mangion (1905-1997)
Retrospective
From the 29th of June, 2025, to the 31st of August, 2025
* * *
MUŻAjk
Mary Portelli
From the 6th of September, 2025, to the 9th of November, 2025
our Partners
The information in this programme booklet was correct at the time of printing. Il-Ħaġar │ Heart of Gozo reserves the right to change dates or details of events at any time as necessary.
