A New Art Exhibition Spotlighting Giuseppe Calì Under ‘Your Muża’ Concept

Press Release│ 22 May 2025

Prime Minister Dr Robert Abela has launched MUŻA’s second exhibition by MUŻA in the series ‘Your MUŻA’, this time spotlighting local artistic genius Giuseppe Calì. The exhibition, which starts at the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic in Valletta, runs until the 4th of June 2025. It will then be set up at the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady in Mosta from the 12th till the 25th of June, and will visit Lija and Sliema later in the year.

In his speech at the launch of the exhibition, the Prime Minister remarked that this Heritage Malta initiative is important because it brings art and culture closer to the community. He said that this strengthens Maltese identity – which we are so proud of. The Prime Minister explained that a hefty investment is being channelled into the artistic and cultural sector, two chief contributing sectors of the economy which continue to be directed towards quality for the benefit of the people.

Dr Owen Bonnici, Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, stated that ‘Your MUŻA’ is a clear example of how art can be brought closer to the people. This initiative is testament to a mature and inclusive vision where everyone – people who love art and those who may not have recognised its value yet -are given the opportunity to appreciate national masterpieces and heritage. “Well done to Heritage Malta and all those who worked to turn this into reality. Art should be for everyone – and this is a big step in that direction,” Minister Bonnici concluded.

Mario Cutajar, MUŻA’s Director and Heritage Malta’s Chairman, who is curating the exhibition, pointed out that, “The Malta National-Community Art Museum, better known as MUŻA, would not be complete without the community. There are various ways in which MUŻA is in and with the community. One of these is that instead of the museum awaiting the public to visit, it itself offers the opportunity to experience its collection by reaching the core of the community. That is the whole point of ‘Your MUŻA’, and that is why this touring exhibition will not stop in one locality but will be set up in four sites, to showcase the works of this outstanding artist who strongly influenced the local art scene. The Malta Biennale, running its second edition, and the thorough updating of all of MUŻA’s halls, are also addressing this need,” Mr Cutajar concluded.

Fr Michael Camilleri, OP, parish priest at the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic, said that, “Valletta’s Dominican community greatly appreciates the fact that this exhibition about Giuseppe Calì, who hailed from the same parish, started its journey at the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic, which features various Calì pieces.” He mentioned the extensive restoration works carried out in the church these last seven years, including on Calì pieces, and praised the financial support by the European Union, the Social Causes Fund, Bank of Valletta and other benefactors who backed the project. He thanked particularly Heritage Malta, which helped throughout the whole process and is now publishing a new book providing insight into all the works and other related details.

A detailed catalogue accompanies the exhibition – of which physical copies are available for purchase on site and a digital version may be accessed HERE. A new, exquisitely illustrated Heritage Malta hard-back publication, titled ‘Our Lady of Porto Salvo – Valletta’s Basilica of St Dominic’, also provides further insight into the extensive restoration works conducted in the church.

‘Your MUŻA’ is an outreach and accessibility initiative bringing works from the national art collection closer to the public, by temporarily loaning them to different localities with which they bear a connection. The new exhibition highlights Calì’s outstanding skill and shades of expression by bringing together some of his most renowned masterpieces – including ‘The Death of Dragut’ (loaned from MUŻA) – alongside art pieces from contemporaries, artistic sketches, his baptismal and death records, and more documents shedding light on aspects of the artist’s life. The opening hours of the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic in Valletta are from 10:00 till 19:00. Entrance is completely free, and the public can access it through the main doorway in Merchants Street.