Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna receive over €15,000 in financial support, but not out of the water yet

Heritage trust Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna have raised an impressive €15,269.10 a few days after setting up a crowd funding campaign to raise enough money to sustain the foundation’s expenditures.

On 16 July, the foundation launched a crowd-funding campaign, “The Malta Heritage Fund” on their website and Facebook page, to raise money to sustain the foundation’s daily expenditures and to keep up its museums at the highest standards.

“The Coronavirus pandemic has hit Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna very hard, and as a result of the forced closure of the eight museums, we lost a good part of our annual revenue for this year, leaving us in a state of serious financial distress,” the Foundation’s Chairman Mario Farrugia told The Malta Independent.

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna was set up in 1987 as an independent non-government organisation, active in the fields of cultural heritage preservation and management. It currently manages eight museums of its own making at Fort Rinella, the Malta War Museum, the Lascaris War Rooms (below), the War HQ Tunnels, the Unfinished WW2 Bunker, Notre Dame Gate and the St. Peter and Paul Counter-guard in Valletta.

“During the closed months, we managed to retain our entire work force and carried on with the routine conservation work of numerous museums and heritage buildings, but we are worried about the future,” Farrugia explained.

Although the museums are open and tourists are arriving, admittances are still very low and concerns are growing of what is to happen come September.

“Summer is our peak season where we make enough money to continue improving and keeping our museums at the highest standard. If we do not produce enough money, then we are in big trouble,” explained Farrugia.

Without immediate support, the Foundation will be forced to reduce its work force, shut its museums or reduce their opening hours.

The Foundation has set up the online funds to collect donations by well-wishers and supporters. In the first five days, the campaign has exceeded the sum of €15,000 with donations. But this is not enough as FWA needs a few tens of thousands more to ensure that it will weather the storm and maintain all of its current services. 

Farrugia explained that the Foundation is currently in discussions with the Culture Ministry. “Unfortunately our country does not have the mechanism for such circumstances. In other countries there are emergency funds for this sector and helps greatly. Currently we are in discussions to see what can be done.” 

One can help by making a one off or a periodic contribution using the following link: https://gogetfunding.com/malta-heritage-fund/

Source: Independent Malta Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna receive over €15,000 in financial support, but not out of the water yet
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