Heritage Malta, the national agency responsible for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage has recently introduced a scheme which enables members of the general public to enrol as members of the agency and enjoy free unlimited access to all Heritage Malta sites.

The scheme was introduced with the aim of enticing more locals to visit museums and cultural sites on a regular basis. Heritage Malta operates close to 30 sites in Malta and Gozo, 21 of which are open on a daily basis except for Good Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

All the megalithic temple structures feature on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list and these include the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, the Tarxien Temples, Ggantija, Hagar Qim and Mnajdra as well as Skorba and Hagrat in Mgarr. The latter two are open once a week on Tuesdays.

The membership scheme was devised to allow people from all walks of life the flexibility to visit Heritage Malta sites at their own leisure. Apart from an individual membership, Heritage Malta has also introduced a family card which allows whole families to benefit from this scheme and acquaint themselves with the islands’ rich archaeological, historical and cultural past.

Individual membership

The individual membership card sells for Lm12 and provides free, unrestricted entry to all Heritage Malta museums and sites (except the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum) for a period of 12 calendar months from date of issue. Given the nature of the Hypogeum, individual members benefit from a 50 per cent discount on the normal admission fee to this unique site.

The membership card also entitles holders to a minimum 10 per cent discount on all purchases from Heritage Malta shops which are currently operating from different sites. In addition, members also receive a copy of the Heritage Malta official newsletter, which is published three times a year and a personal invitation via e-mail to all of the agency’s public lectures which are usually held on Tuesdays evenings at the head office in Merchants Street, Valletta.

Furthermore, members qualify for a 50 per cent discount on entry tickets to special exhibitions and other events organised by the agency such as the popular thematic Heritage Trails which were launched this year.

If an adult had to visit all Heritage Malta sites at least once a year, he or she would spend close to Lm30.

During the last 12 months, the Inquisitor’s Palace alone was home to three temporary exhibitions including the popular Art of Pain which was hosted in collaboration with the museum of San Gimigniano.

Other temporary exhibitions are held in other sites particularly at the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Museum of Fine Arts (both in Valletta) and at the Malta Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa.

The membership scheme is also open to juniors (those aged between 12-17) and senior citizens (aged 60+). These individuals pay a reduced membership fee of Lm8 and are still entitled to all benefits attached to this scheme.

Applying for a membership card

Applying for a membership card is a simple one-stop process. Individuals can either collect an application form from one of Heritage Malta sites or else download the application form on-line at www.heritagemalta.org

A membership card is issued at Head Office. Patrons have the choice of either calling personally at Head Office in which case, they will have their photograph taken electronically and issued the membership card. Alternatively, patrons can send their application by post and enclose a colour passport-sized photograph. The card will be processed and sent to the member by post.

Family membership

Heritage Malta has also introduced a scheme which incorporates whole family units. The primary objective behind this scheme is to entice whole families to visit Heritage Malta sites. With a number of sites being included in the curriculum, more families are feeling the need to visits sites and museums on a regular basis.

Heritage Malta is imposing no restrictions on the number of children registered under the membership scheme provided they all bear the same family name, reside at the same address and are aged between six and 17 years of age when the card is issued.

To facilitate matters, all the members within a family will be issued a separate membership card to allow different members of the family to visit different sites at the same time. All members of the Family Scheme qualify for the benefits as listed for the Individual Membership although in the case of a 10 per cent discount on purchases made from Heritage Malta shops, only one card per purchase can be presented.

Since its introduction late last year, more than 150 members have enrolled in this scheme and Heritage Malta is confident that the number of locals applying to join this scheme will continue to increase.

The membership scheme is another step in fulfilling Heritage Malta’s quest in giving a future to our past.

Heritage Malta sites opening on a daily basis are open between 9.00am and 5.00pm with extended opening hours at certain sites coinciding with different events and festivities.

The agency is currently working on a number of ambitious projects including the building of visitor services facilities at Tarxien Temples and the erection of temporary shelters over Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples including the provisions for a state-of-the-art visitor centre.

Article provided by Heritage Malta

Heritage Malta, the national agency responsible for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage has recently introduced a scheme which enables members of the general public to enrol as members of the agency and enjoy free unlimited access to all Heritage Malta sites.

The scheme was introduced with the aim of enticing more locals to visit museums and cultural sites on a regular basis. Heritage Malta operates close to 30 sites in Malta and Gozo, 21 of which are open on a daily basis except for Good Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

All the megalithic temple structures feature on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list and these include the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, the Tarxien Temples, Ggantija, Hagar Qim and Mnajdra as well as Skorba and Hagrat in Mgarr. The latter two are open once a week on Tuesdays.

The membership scheme was devised to allow people from all walks of life the flexibility to visit Heritage Malta sites at their own leisure. Apart from an individual membership, Heritage Malta has also introduced a family card which allows whole families to benefit from this scheme and acquaint themselves with the islands’ rich archaeological, historical and cultural past.

Individual membership

The individual membership card sells for Lm12 and provides free, unrestricted entry to all Heritage Malta museums and sites (except the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum) for a period of 12 calendar months from date of issue. Given the nature of the Hypogeum, individual members benefit from a 50 per cent discount on the normal admission fee to this unique site.

The membership card also entitles holders to a minimum 10 per cent discount on all purchases from Heritage Malta shops which are currently operating from different sites. In addition, members also receive a copy of the Heritage Malta official newsletter, which is published three times a year and a personal invitation via e-mail to all of the agency’s public lectures which are usually held on Tuesdays evenings at the head office in Merchants Street, Valletta.

Furthermore, members qualify for a 50 per cent discount on entry tickets to special exhibitions and other events organised by the agency such as the popular thematic Heritage Trails which were launched this year.

If an adult had to visit all Heritage Malta sites at least once a year, he or she would spend close to Lm30.

During the last 12 months, the Inquisitor’s Palace alone was home to three temporary exhibitions including the popular Art of Pain which was hosted in collaboration with the museum of San Gimigniano.

Other temporary exhibitions are held in other sites particularly at the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Museum of Fine Arts (both in Valletta) and at the Malta Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa.

The membership scheme is also open to juniors (those aged between 12-17) and senior citizens (aged 60+). These individuals pay a reduced membership fee of Lm8 and are still entitled to all benefits attached to this scheme.

Applying for a membership card

Applying for a membership card is a simple one-stop process. Individuals can either collect an application form from one of Heritage Malta sites or else download the application form on-line at www.heritagemalta.org

A membership card is issued at Head Office. Patrons have the choice of either calling personally at Head Office in which case, they will have their photograph taken electronically and issued the membership card. Alternatively, patrons can send their application by post and enclose a colour passport-sized photograph. The card will be processed and sent to the member by post.

Family membership

Heritage Malta has also introduced a scheme which incorporates whole family units. The primary objective behind this scheme is to entice whole families to visit Heritage Malta sites. With a number of sites being included in the curriculum, more families are feeling the need to visits sites and museums on a regular basis.

Heritage Malta is imposing no restrictions on the number of children registered under the membership scheme provided they all bear the same family name, reside at the same address and are aged between six and 17 years of age when the card is issued.

To facilitate matters, all the members within a family will be issued a separate membership card to allow different members of the family to visit different sites at the same time. All members of the Family Scheme qualify for the benefits as listed for the Individual Membership although in the case of a 10 per cent discount on purchases made from Heritage Malta shops, only one card per purchase can be presented.

Since its introduction late last year, more than 150 members have enrolled in this scheme and Heritage Malta is confident that the number of locals applying to join this scheme will continue to increase.

The membership scheme is another step in fulfilling Heritage Malta’s quest in giving a future to our past.

Heritage Malta sites opening on a daily basis are open between 9.00am and 5.00pm with extended opening hours at certain sites coinciding with different events and festivities.

The agency is currently working on a number of ambitious projects including the building of visitor services facilities at Tarxien Temples and the erection of temporary shelters over Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples including the provisions for a state-of-the-art visitor centre.

Article provided by Heritage Malta