Projects
Ongoing and Completed Projects
CURRENT
CHIPED: Cultural Heritage Interpretation Portal for an Enhanced Digitized Experience
Part-funded by the Malta Council for the Arts
The scope of this project is to drive and implement the Interpretation Plan for the St Augustine’s Community Interpretation Centre. Between 2017 and 2020 the Fondazzjoni Soċjo-Kulturali Ambjentali Augustina (FSKAA) compiled the following documents (included as addenda) to spur a sound Interpretation Plan targetting full access, equal opportunities and a community based experience;
(i)ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES, FSKAA (April 2017);
(ii)EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY & PROGRAMME, FSKAA (April 2017);
(iii) ST. AUGUSTINE’S: INTERPRETATION AND CONVENTION CENTRE: DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING BRIEF (2017-2020);
(iv) ST. AUGUSTINE’S: INTERPRETATION AND CONVENTION CENTRE: INTERPRETATION PLAN AND STYLE GUIDE (2019-2020).
Digitizing the physical space: The physical space is essentially a limited section of the Community Interpretation Centre. It is the tangible container but digitization offers a more extendable space with unlimited access to the collection and the assets. The digitization enhances the existing space and creates new space with unlimited shelving. This essential and vital especially when considering creative and reflective space open to events for artists, musicians and performers. Post-COVID digitization has become the main driver for interactive cultural and heritage sites.
Project Team:
Dr Malcolm Borg (Project Coordinator); Mr Brian Bunce (Project Development and Technology); Mr Denis Darmanin (In-house historian); Prof Saviour Formosa and Mr Frank Farrugia (GI and Web applications)
Restoration of the 17th century titular painting “Our Lady of Perpetual Help” attributed to Erardi: Ref: RFS28-22-2230
Part-funded by the Malta Council for the Arts
This project is in its last phase. The restoration team headed by Fr Charles Vella (Director/Restorer) and coordinated and developed by Dr Malcolm Borg (MPIA) is directed at the restoration of the earliest known titular painting. The painting was on the main altar in the lost church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It survived the earthquake of 1693 and the blitz of WWII. The restoration directed at reinstating the canvas and the damaged sections has revealed a true master at work. The painting which had been covered by over-painting and chemical dirt revealed brilliant hues. The cleaning also uncovered its state before repeated interventions. Like other titular paintings in the collection this canvas was folded numerous times and packed for safe keeping. The most significant discovery was a central figure with Caravaggist traits. (Please follow our paper on the subject to be uploaded after publication)
Project Team:
Rev. Fr Charles Vella (Director Restorer); Dr Malcolm Borg (Project development and management); Fr Leslie Gatt (Project Administrator); Fr Alexander Cauchi (Project Leader); Mr Denis Darmanin (In-house historian and monitor).
Socio-Cultural Organisations Promoting Heritage Experiences (SCOPE)
Part-funded European Structural and Investment Funds
The SCOPE project is based on the adaptive re-use of the St.Augustine priory in Valletta. The Fondazzjoni Socjo-Kulturali Ambjentali Augustina is delivering a Community Interpretation Centre. The complex includes; An Interpretation Centre distributed on 5 Levels, the Church and a Convention Centre/ Multi-Purpose Hall. The centre will include; a shelter, crypt, the cloister and galleries portraying the history of the Manderaggio, the church and priory and galleries exhibiting various religious artefacts. There will be a developing theme from underground level to the first floor. All the areas will include diverse tangible and intangible heritage assets from the archaeology of the building, artifacts, galleries and archives. The soft opening is scheduled for end 2023.
Project Team: Fr Alex Cauchi (Project Leader); Fr Leslie Gatt (Project Management); Dr Malcolm Borg (Project Coordinator); FSKAA (Project Development Committee)
COMPLETED
CARL: VOPS scheme (2017-2018)
In 2017 the Fondazzjoni Socjo-Kulturali Ambjentali Augustina (FSKAA) embarked on a project to develop a Conservation and Research Lab(CARL) to engage further its volunteers in Collection Care and Management and strengthen the capability and capacity of locals’ skills especially those engaged or willing to be engaged in cultural industries. The Project addressed employment in the cultural sector through the FSKAA so that it can respond to the needs of the community and the future Community Interpretation Centre. CARL is being used by the volunteers which have had training in the field and more hands-on experience and thus gaining more knowledge to promote best practice in collection care. The methodology adopted was a stepped approach; (1) developing an incubator (the Lab), (2) training and (3) practical application. The initial budget directed at this project was of Euro 15,692.00 supported by VOPS co-funding scheme.
Project Team: Fr Alex Cauchi (Team Leader); Dr Malcolm Borg (Project Coordinator and Project Management)
VECTOR: VOPS scheme (2020-2021)
In a post pandemic scenario VECTOR has been developed to restore the programme of the incubator CARL Lab and initiate a multi-skill and multi-speed training process. VECTOR is directed to engage further its volunteers in site Management in all its aspects and strengthen the capability and capacity of locals’ skills especially those engaged or willing to be engaged in the cultural and heritage sector. VECTOR will be inviting professionals in the field of; Health and Safety (with special reference to Fire Marshals); Tourist Guides (with special reference to local heritage); Basic Barista Course (Cafe Management); Basic Data Entry Operators (specifically to update Inventories). The restorers address critical assets and will assist the Foundation through skilled volunteers for conservation, cleaning, maintenance, registering, tagging and presentation and exhibition of artefacts for the collection. It will also host the main server (separate funding) for the Inventory of the Collection. Further training sessions in the 3rd phase of implementation will include short courses in; Art appreciation, History of the site, Heritage Management and Site Management. The Courses will be certified at MQF LEVELS 1-2, under the supervision of a contractor/project manager. This programme will be reviewed to respond to the needs of the CIC bi-annually. Other informal training will be provided on an annual basis in tandem with the recruitment programme.
Project Team: Fr Alex Cauchi (Team Leader); Dr Malcolm Borg (Project Coordinator and Project Management); Mr Denis Darmanin (Co-ordinator), Ms Glorianne Mizzi (Consultant); FSKAA Project Committee (Project Support)
Common.On Heritage 2019-2020
The Meeting in 2019 for this project was organised at the St Augustine’s facilities in co-operation with Paola Heritage Foundation. The project which was based on developing a course for Community Leaders was based on collating best practice from all partners. The project included the implementation of the following;
- 4 hackathon;
- 18 professionals
- 3 training schemes;
- 19 new ideas
Dr Malcolm Borg (Project development and management); Fr Alexander Cauchi (Organiser); Mr Denis Darmanin (Coordination).
Titular painting of Our Lady of Consolation: 19th century (2018)
Financed by the FSKAA
The restoration of the 19th century titular painting of Our Lady of the Girdle (Our Lady of Consolation) was one of the earliest works which was launched in the earliest phase of the Community Interpretation Centre development. It now features as a central piece in the Portrait Gallery. The restoration of the painting was complex and saw the complete reinstatement of the canvas. As in other cases this canvas was also folded for safekeeping. The cleaning and restiution revealed a briliant execution with a clean palette and sharp linearity. The ninteenth century painting possibly by a Nazzarene painter consolidates the collection of titular paintings of the period alongside those by Giuseppe Hyzler.
Project Team: Rev. Fr Charles Vella (Director Restorer); Dr Malcolm Borg (Project development and management); Fr Leslie Gatt (Project Administrator); Fr Alexander Cauchi (Project Leader); Mr Denis Darmanin (In-house historian and monitor).
RFS 11/20: Restoration of the Cupolas of the Annunciation Chapel and that of St. Rita at the Church of St. Augustine Valletta
Part-Funded Malta Council for the Arts (2019-2020)
The restoration project was directed at two domes and the respective lunettes and pendentives over two side chapels. One of the side chapels is that dedicated to to the “Sacrament” essentially the Chapel of the Annunciation. The dome lunettes and pendentives were the work of Emvin Cremona modern 20th century artist painted. He painted in his characteristic style a cycle which includes the angels and saints, the evangelists dominated by the lunette of the Resurrection (1950s). The dome is in the style of 20th century sacred art and very particular to this artist. A significant element which was degraded through the deterioration is the element of aura and light which is a common element in the sacred art of Cremona. The plan was to restore two small cupolas but the budget was directed at only one of the cupolas. The lantern over the dome necessitate restoration to stop water percolation. In places the canvas was cut delineated or detached. The main challenge was two understand through a close photographic survey the elements impacting the fabric of the paintings. The conditions that may have impacted the restoration were COVID-19 and the ungoing restoration works. The FSKAA also financed the dome restoration and pendentives ovder the chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas of Tolentino and St. Rita. The cycle dedicated to St. Rita by local artist Aldo Micallef Grimaud also necessitated significant intervention.
Project Team: Rev. Fr Charles Vella (Director Restorer); Dr Malcolm Borg (Project development and management); Fr Leslie Gatt (Project Administrator); Fr Alexander Cauchi (Project Leader); Mr Denis Darmanin (In-house historian and monitor).
The conservation and enhancementof the processional statue took just over 12 months. The conservation and project schemas was based on 7 phases extending from August 2021 to end August 2022.
Phase 1: The analysis, evaluation and study was made prior to theintervention. The main issue addressed was the tarnishing of the mahogany surface.
Phase 2: The preparation phase was directed at preparing the ground and preventive work.
Phase 3: Several layers of gessoing (gesso di bologna) and (hide glue) were applied to prepare a base for the designs and gilding.
Phase 4: The gesso was then rened and the sgrafto technique applied and layers of gilders bole clay.
Phase 5: Through water technique gilding 23.75karat gold was appliedover the gilders boleclay. The next step was agate stone burnishing.
Phase 6: The work then turned to the application of “encarnación” (the painting of esh tones and facial expression;literally ‘incarnation’ or ‘bringing to life’) a specialised technique. This included also preparing the ground with gesso, the rening of details and preparing the statue for polychromy.
Phase 7: Several oil based paint layers were applied to bring out the flesh tones and detailing. Over this, a protective layer was applied to conserve the delicate layers applied.
Project Team: (Restorer & Gilder) Aaron Camilleri Cauchi and Horace Farrugia; Dr Malcolm Borg (Project development and management); Fr Leslie Gatt (Project Administrator); Fr Alexander Cauchi (Project Leader); Mr Denis Darmanin (In-house historian and monitor).
RSF11-21-930: Fresco Restoration of the 18th century Recessed Altar at St. Augustine’s Ref Number:
(2022-2023)
The restoration was directed at the centralised Chapel of Our Lady (possibly dedicated to Our Lady of Safe Haven?) with a recessed frescoed (fresco secco) altar. The frescoes decorate the arch, vault and walls. The decoration is an enhancement of the architectural motifs and grammar with bases, capitals and pilasters, heavy cornices and cartouch designs. The whole is a trompe l’oeil with a typical marbeling effect on most areas in a “verde antico” and brown surface. The system may be a late Mannerist (17th-18th century) intervention. The recessed altar until 2018 was blocked off and discovered through restoration works on the then Music Archive. The recessed altar is a contrast to the more classical centralised chapel with simple leathery ribs over the ceiling. This may have been a private chapel with a view onto the Church transept to follow services internally. The main challenge was to revert the very rapid depletion and degradation of the intrados and the re-adhesion of the paint fragments.
Rev. Fr Charles Vella (Director Restorer); Dr Malcolm Borg (Project development and management); Fr Leslie Gatt (Project Administrator); Fr Alexander Cauchi (Project Leader); Mr Denis Darmanin (In-house historian and monitor).