The National War Museum : evaluating the visitors' experience

Abstract

Being one of the most frequented museums of Heritage Malta, the National War Museum sets an example to other museums. It is a book of knowledge about the history of Malta during the two World War periods. Its significance to the national identity of the Maltese people is one that cannot be coined in a simple sentence but needs ample elaboration. The Maltese citizens together with numerous tourists that visit Malta throughout the year must never forget the sacrifices of their ancestors. Therefore, the National War Museum must stand out as a memorial museum while at the same time making sure that it is accessible and educational to every visitor that enters its doors. The study that has been conducted and discussed in this dissertation represents the work and the changes of the museum done so far from its refurbishment. It discusses the types of analysis that have been utilized in order to obtain the data and elaborates on the implications of the results. It shows how the museum operates and how the visitors view it in terms of the interpretation of the material displayed as well as the variety of artefacts offered. The illustrated work is a result of an in depth evaluation of the visitors' experience so as to determine whether the refurbishment has succeeded in creating an atmosphere where its visitors feel at ease to let themselves learn and thus fulfil the museums' mission.