St John’s Co-Cathedral Explores Storytelling in ‘Where Stories Live’ Seminar this May

[ENG]

On Wednesday 6 May, St John’s Co-Cathedral will host a day-long titled Where Stories Live | Narrative in an Evolving Experience at King’s Own Band Club in Valletta, bringing together leading thinkers and practitioners to explore storytelling as a strategic link between heritage, digital transformation, human experience, and future relevance.

A central highlight of the seminar is the keynote address by internationally recognised museologist Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao, whose work has significantly shaped contemporary thinking on museums in the digital age. A leading voice in global museum studies, her research examines the implications of digital and participatory media for museum practice. She is the author of Museums as Platforms (2022) and co-author of Collecting Social Media: From Object to Content (2025), with widely cited contributions on digitisation, platform logics, personalisation, and algorithmic cultural recommendation. Formerly Director of Museum Studies at the University of Queensland, she continues to play an active role in international research communities, contributing to initiatives such as the CPRA Australia Board and critical heritage and digital culture networks.

The seminar will also feature a series of panel discussions and workshops led by a diverse line-up of local and international speakers. Among the contributors is Dr Sandro Debono, a Malta-based academic and museum advisor, and executive board member of the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO), where he leads the Think Tank for Museum Futures. International perspectives will be further enriched by Dr Annalisa Banzi, an art historian from the University of Milan whose research focuses on the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and visitor experience in museums.

The programme also includes contributions from John Mallia, Simone Spiteri and Alex Zammit. Mallia is a highly experienced trainer who has been active since 1998 and specialises in motivational training for personal development, communication, and workplace effectiveness across a wide range of public and private sector organisations. Spiteri, an award-winning playwright and founder of theatre company Dù, brings a strong narrative and performative dimension, with works staged internationally and recognised by national awards, including the National Book Prize for Drama. Zammit’s interdisciplinary work bridges theology, psychology, art, and cultural engagement, focusing on how art functions as both a reflection of culture and a vehicle for meaning.

The seminar offers a unique platform for dialogue across disciplines, inviting participants to consider how storytelling can shape more meaningful, inclusive, and future-oriented cultural experiences.

Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided.

For more information, visit the website. Tickets are available online.

[MLT]

Il-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann se jorganizza Seminar f’Mejju bit-titlu ‘Where Stories Live’

Nhar il-Erbgħa 6 ta’ Mejju, il-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann se jkun qed jospita seminar ta’ ġurnata bit-titlu ta’ Where Stories Live | Narrative in an Evolving Experience ġewwa il-King’s Own Band Club fil-Belt Valletta. Dan l-avveniment se jiġbor flimkien ħassieba u prattikanti ewlenin biex jesploraw ir-rakkont tal-istejjer bħala rabta strateġika bejn il-wirt, it-trasformazzjoni diġitali, l-esperjenza umana, u r-rilevanza futura.

Punt ewlieni f’dan is-seminar huwa d-diskors mill-mużeologa rikonoxxuta internazzjonalment Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao, li x-xogħol tagħha sawwar b'mod sinifikanti l-ħsieb kontemporanju dwar il-mużewijiet fl-era diġitali. Bħala vuċi ewlenija fl-istudji globali tal-mużewijiet, ir-riċerka tagħha teżamina l-implikazzjonijiet tal-midja diġitali u parteċipazzjoni prattika fil-mużewijiet. Hija l-awtriċi ta' Museums as Platforms (2022) u ko-awtriċi ta' Collecting Social Media: From Object to Content (2025), b'kontribuzzjonijiet ikkwotati dwar id-diġitalizzazzjoni, il-loġika tal-pjattaformi, il-personalizzazzjoni, u r-rakkomandazzjoni kulturali algoritmika. Kienet Direttriċi tal-Istudji tal-Mużewijiet fl-Università ta' Queensland, u bħalissa tokkupa rwol attiv fil-komunitajiet ta' riċerka internazzjonali, billi tikkontribwixxi għal inizjattivi bħall-Bord tas-CPRA Australia u netwerks oħra li joperaw fil-wirt kritiku u l-kultura diġitali.

Is-seminar se jinkludi wkoll diskussjonji f’panel u serje ta’ workshops immexxija minn firxa diversa ta’ kelliema lokali u internazzjonali. Fost il-kontributuri hemm Dr Sandro Debono, konsulent akkademiku tal-mużewijiet ibbażat f’Malta, u membru tal-bord eżekuttiv tan-Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO), fejn imexxi t-Think Tank fuq il-futur tal-mużewijiet. Il-perspettivi internazzjonali se jiġu esplorati aktar minn Dr Annalisa Banzi, storika tal-arti mill-Università ta’ Milan li r-riċerka tagħha tiffoka fuq l-intersezzjoni tal-psikoloġija, in-newroxjenza, u l-esperjenza tal-viżitaturi fil-mużewijiet.

Il-programm jinkludi wkoll kontribuzzjonijiet minn John Mallia, Simone Spiteri u Alex Zammit. Mallia huwa trainer esperjenzat li ilu attiv fis-settur mill-1998 u jispeċjalizza fi training motivazzjonali għall-iżvilupp personali, il-kommunikazzjoni u l-effettività fil-post tax-xogħol f'firxa wiesgħa ta' organizzazzjonijiet fis-settur pubbliku u privat. Spiteri, kittieba fis-settur kreattiv u fundatur tal-kumpanija teatrali Dù, iġib magħha dimensjoni unika mill-aspetti ta’ narrattiva u performattiva. Ix-xogħol tagħha itellgħa internazzjonalment u ġie rikonoxxuti b’bosta Premji nazzjonali, inkluż il-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb għad-Drama. Ix-xogħol interdixxiplinari ta’ Zammit jgħaqqad it-teoloġija, il-psikoloġija, l-arti, u l-involviment kulturali, billi jiffoka fuq kif l-arti tiffunzjona kemm bħala riflessjoni tal-kultura kif ukoll bħala mezz għat-tifsira.

 Is-seminar joffri pjattaforma unika għal djalogu li jimraħ minn dixxiplina għall-oħra u jistieden lill-parteċipanti jikkonsidraw kif ir-rakkont tal-istejjer jistgħu jiffurmaw esperjenzi kulturali sinifikanti, inklużivi, u orjentati lejn il-futur.

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