GozoNews.Com

Heritage Malta has scheduled its third annual national conference, with the theme Island Fragility and Cultural Resources, for 3rd November.

This year’s conference, which is being held in Gozo, will focus on the challenges encountered by small island nations in the management of their cultural heritage and in the evolution of sustainable cultural tourism.

The conference will specifically address a number of issues that are unique to small territories and that are vital in ensuring the sustainability of our national heritage.

It will be addressed by key stakeholders in tourism and culture who will share their views on an important aspect of our cultural heritage. A number of foreign and local speakers will tackle different aspects of this interesting theme.

The Bishop of Gozo Mgr Mario Grech, Professor Lino Briguglio and Professor Godfrey Baldacchino, who will be flying over from Canada specifically for this conference, will be among the speakers.

In the second session, Dr David Trump, Dr Caroline Malone, Dr Simon Stoddart and Professor Anthony Bonanno, all co-directors of the Xaghra Stone Circle Excavation, together with Dr Rueben Grima, senior curator at Heritage Malta, and Dr David Barrowclough, associate professor at the University of Cambridge, will present an in-depth case study on Malta’s prehistoric temple culture as a model of insularity and fragility.

The conference will be opened by Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono and the final address will be delivered by Culture and Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

Bookings for this full-day conference will be strictly on a first come, first served basis.

Further information can be obtained from Heritage Malta’s head office in Merchants’ Street, Valletta, Telephone 22954000, or from Heritage Malta’s Gozo area office at the Citadel in Victoria, Telephone: 21564188, or by email to ritenne.buttigieg[at]gov[dot]mt