Every country has artefacts that tell its story. For Malta, these are found in our churches and chapels, in works of art, archives, music, traditions, and in the stories passed on from one generation to the next. They remind us where we come from, what shaped us, and what we have a responsibility to protect. Preserving our cultural heritage is therefore not only about restoring beautiful objects or historic places. It is about caring for our identity, memory, and sense of belonging that connects us as a community.
For more than 50 years, Bank of Valletta has supported initiatives that help safeguard Malta's cultural, artistic, and historical patrimony. This has always been an important part of how the Bank gives back to the community. Through the BOV Community Reach-Out Programme and its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, the Bank has supported several significant restoration projects, including the iconic Ta' Ġieżu Crucifix in Valletta, Mattia Preti's frescoes at the church of St Catherine of Italy, Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt's gilded suit of armour, and Emvin Cremona's paintings at the Ta' Pinu Sanctuary in Gozo, among others.
The establishment of the BOV Foundation in 2024 gave this commitment a renewed focus. Arts and Culture is one of the Foundation's five strategic pillars, reflecting our belief that heritage is not something distant or static. It forms part of our everyday life, our communities, and our shared identity. Through the Foundation, we are building on the Bank's long-standing support in a more focused and sustainable way, working with conservationists, restorers, institutions, and NGOs across Malta and Gozo.
Among the projects supported by the BOV Foundation is the restoration of the 15th-century pala d'altare at the Parish Church of St George in Qormi. The project, which took three years to complete, revealed important historical and iconographic insights and ensured that this remarkable artwork can continue to be appreciated by future generations. Another meaningful initiative was the restoration of the carved wooden pulpit at the Parish Church of St Catherine of Alexandria in Żurrieq. Dating back to 1669 and recognised as the second-oldest pulpit in Malta after that of St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, it is a powerful reminder of the craftsmanship, devotion, and community life that shaped our islands over the centuries.
The Foundation has also partnered with NGOs such as Din l-Art Ħelwa to support the restoration of the San Ċir Chapel, one of the few remaining medieval chapels in Malta. Through its collaboration with Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, it is also helping bring important chapters of Malta's history closer to the public, including the exhibition at the Malta Time-Gun Museum featuring John Müller's eighteenth-century artillery designs and related equipment. These projects may differ in scale and setting, but they all serve the same purpose: keeping Malta's story visible, accessible, and alive.
Heritage is not only found in buildings and artefacts. It also lives in personal experiences, memories, and voices that deserve to be preserved. This is why the Foundation recently formalised an agreement with the University of Malta to support the expansion of the country's first 'Women's Archive', housed within the University Library's Special Archives Department. This initiative will help preserve, document, and make accessible the contributions and experiences of women throughout Malta's history, ensuring that their stories form part of the national memory we pass on.
At the same time, the Arts and Culture pillar is not only about preservation. It is also about encouraging participation and appreciation. Bank of Valletta has long been a patron of the local arts sector and remains closely associated with some of Malta's flagship cultural productions. One example is the TOI TOI educational programme at the Manoel Theatre, which introduces younger generations to the performing arts and helps them experience culture as something alive, creative, and relevant to their own lives.
The Foundation has also collaborated with Mapfre Malta and Fundación Mapfre, in partnership with Heritage Malta, to support the exhibition of Francisco de Goya's renowned series of 80 etchings, 'The Disasters of War', at the Grand Master's Palace. Over the years, the Bank has also provided opportunities for local artists to showcase their work, particularly through the BOV Retrospective Exhibitions, which celebrated the lives and artistic contributions of some of Malta's most distinguished artists.
A new milestone was reached last year when the Foundation commissioned and supported its first contemporary art exhibition, 'Moving with the Wind, Like Waves', held at the Inquisitor's Palace in Vittoriosa. Bringing together different artistic disciplines, the exhibition explored memory, ecology, ritual, and care. It also showed how contemporary art can help us reflect on today's realities while staying connected to the values and stories that shape us.
As Malta's leading bank, our contribution to society must go beyond financial services. The communities we serve are the same communities our employees call home and where our customers build their futures. When we support culture and heritage, we are helping to protect what gives these communities meaning, continuity, and pride. Through the Arts and Culture pillar of the BOV Foundation, we will continue to support initiatives that preserve our cultural memory, encourage artistic expression, and strengthen the identity that brings us together. Heritage is a gift we have inherited, but it is also a responsibility we carry. By caring for it today, we help ensure that future generations can continue to learn from it, feel connected to it, and be proud to call it their own.
Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company regulated by the MFSA and is licensed to carry out the business of banking and investment services in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the Laws of Malta) and the Investment Services Act (Cap. 370 of the Laws of Malta).