Din l-Art Helwa is organising a number of events to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Details of the programme were revealed at a press briefing addressed by DLH’s president Martin Scicluna, with honorary life president, Judge Maurice Caruana Curran in attendance.

Mr Scicluna said that to commemorate the anniversary in style DLH will be launching three new schemes. The first is a Journalist’s Award Scheme for Built Cultural Heritage, the second is the Din l-Art Helwa Award for Architectural Heritage while the third is a special Silver Medal celebrating the 40th anniversary of DLH.

Mr Scicluna said that Din l-Art Helwa was not associated with any political party and always worked assiduously and at great personal sacrifice for the upkeep and conservation of Malta’s cultural heritage. He paid tribute to the invaluable work carried out by founder president Judge Maurice Caruana Curran who was instrumental in creating a national conscience in the environmental sector.

Mr Scicluna said that DLH was responsible for saving some 27 historic sites or monuments which would have been lost to oblivion if proper conservation action had not been taken.

Among the list of events to commemorate the 40th anniversary there will be a festival with four concerts at the Bir Miftuh Chapel in Gudja, a reception for corporate patrons, the inauguration of the newly restored Santa Marija Tower in Comino and various exhibitions and guided tours on DLH properties, Mr Scicluna revealed.

While fielding questions from journalists, DLH’s president said that there has been a tremendous shift in the past two years as regards cultural heritage awareness, adding that the association now counts around 2,000 active members. Asked on young people’s participation, Mr Scicluna said that this was not up to expected levels but he expressed confidence that this would grow in the future.

Asked by The Malta Independent on cooperation with Heritage Malta, Mr Scicluna revealed that DLH was involved in a project to install information panels at Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, adding that DLH and HM hope to come up with a partnership agreement so that Heritage Malta sites could be manned by DLH volunteers to make these more accessible to all.