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