MUŻA, the recently opened National Museum of Fine Art in Malta, represents a significant development in the history of museums in Malta. It is also the flagship project for Valletta’s European Capital of Culture title in 2018. This new national-community arts museum, housed in a historic building with over 20,000 works of art, seeks to present inspiring and engaging stories to tourists and Maltese residents alike.
MUŻA Museum is a self-sustainable, energy efficient institution with a potential zero-carbon footprint. The energy-efficient Museum, which is aided by the design and layout of the building, utilizes high energy-efficient power consumables, natural lighting, and renewable energy sources, like solar panels, to promote sustainability.
The word MUŻA, itself is an acronym which stands for Muzew Nazzjonali tal-Arti, (National Museum of Fine Arts). It also refers to the muses; the mythological figures from classical antiquity inspiring creativity and, in effect, the etymological source of the word museum. MUŻA is also the Maltese word for inspiration.
MUŻA is located at Auberge d’Italie, a historic site in Valletta, A UNESCO World Heritage site, where the first Malta Museum was established in 1924. The building was the historic seat of the Italian knights of the Order of St John dating back to the 16th Century.
In 1920 the building was also chosen as the seat of the Valletta Museum where the national collection, including what was then known as the fine arts section, was put on display. MUŻA strives to recognize the history of the collection of the Malta National Museum of Fine Arts, and the values which have shaped it over time.
The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere. Valletta built by the proud Knights of St. John is one of the UNESCO sights and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta's patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire's most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do.
