PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Dress Historian – Multidisciplinary Artist – Curator – Artistic Director – Author – Researcher – Broadcaster

EDUCATION
2008: B.A. (Hons) (Melit) Anthropology, University of Malta
2013: B.A. (Hons) (Melit) History of Art, University of Malta (First Class Honours)
2017: M.A. (Melit) History of Art, University of Malta (with Distinction)
TRAINING
1990: Journalism & Magazine Production – Confederation of Malta Trade Unions
2013: TEFL qualified
2014: VIVA Curatorial School, Valletta
2014: Cultural Journalism, COPEAM Euro-Med Organisation
2017: Curatorial mentorship at Museu Nacional do Traje, Lisbon, Portugal
2018: V&A Academy, International Course in Curating Fashion and Dress
2019: The Attingham Trust – London House Course, directed by David Adshead, on the development of the London house from the Renaissance to the present.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Editorial work
1982 – 1994: Founder, Editor of Elegance Magazine
2001 – 2002: I DO Wedding Magazine (Standard Publications)
2009: Co-Editor, Phase magazine, youth career magazine (Progress Press)

Broadcasting Cultural Programmes
2006-2008 TV Producer/Studio Host VITALITA, OneTV, engaging with health, beauty and well-being specialists.
2012 – Radio Producer/Studio Host KUN AF PAJJIZEK, RTK, engaging with museum curators on Maltese heritage.
2012 – Producer/Host, TVM News Breakfast Show, Cultural News, PBS, weekly features on artists, current exhibitions and cultural events.
2013 – Producer/Host, TVM Evening News Bulletin, PBS, presenting weekly cultural events in Malta.
2014 – Producer/Host, KULTEMA, weekly cultural TV programme in collaboration with Arts Council Malta and PBS, introducing current Maltese and international artists and their works.
2015 – Producer/Host, MALTARTI (previously KULTEMA), weekly cultural TV programme in collaboration with Arts Council Malta and PBS, featuring artists in the art and culture scene.
2016 – 2019 Co-producer/Host, MALTARTI, weekly cultural programme, in collaboration with Sarah Lee Zammit, Arts Council Malta and PBS, featuring artists in the art and culture scene.
2019 – Producer/Host, MODA L-ISTORJA TV documentary, a 13-part series based on extensive research in dress history, produced by Sharp Shoot Media.

CURATORIAL AND ARTISTIC DIRECTION

2018 – Artistic Direction, Nostalgia, Notions and Nonsense Poetry soiree event, including costume and dance at Salesian Theatre, Sliema, Malta in aid of Fondazzjoni Flimkien ghall-Ambjent Ahjar.
2019 – Artistic Direction, Folly, Fantasy and Feeling, A light-hearted Poetry soiree event, including costume and dance at Salesian Theatre in aid of the Save Valletta’s Skyline Appeal
2011: Artistic Direction, KWALITA’ MALTA Fashion Design Pavilion, bringing together well-established fashion designers and artisans, including young talented designers from MCAST students.
2012-2013: Artistic Direction, Ladies of Malta in Extravagant & Spectacular Maltese Lace. Historic lace pieces in collaboration with artist and photographer, Patrick J Fenech, combining historic lace pieces with photography and contemporary aesthetics
2024 – Co-Artistic Direction, Curious Beauty: an alternative costume exhibition, with Francesca Balzan, at Palazzo Falson, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti – an immersive contemporary art installation and a celebration of decorative arts and creativity.
2025 – Artistic Direction – Reimaged Fashion Photography in collaboration with fashion photographer, Brian Grech.
2026 – Practice-led research project, Fashion Heritage: From Storage to Digital Revival, merging historic costume with emerging digital technologies to create an online fashion heritage platform, supported by Arts Council Malta.

ACADEMIC WORK

2016 – PREVARTI, The Art Conservation Centre, ‘Costume, Jewellery & Objets d’Art’ course, Francesca Balzan, Nicholas de Piro and Caroline Tonna.
2017 – Caroline Tonna presented a paper on ‘Extravagant dress of the Maltese gentry and nobility in private collections at Wolverhampton University, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences Workshop, ‘Luxury and Exoticism: Textiles and Dress in Museums and Historic Houses,
2018 – Caroline Tonna panel speaker at MICAS concept launch, Conversations on the Rock series discussions, exploring the notion of the contemporary and its role in society at MCAST, Paola.
2018 – Caroline Tonna, Visiting Lecturer, course-study MSN 4015, ‘Decorative Arts in Dress’, University of Malta, Dept. of Health, Physical and Consumer Studies, Faculty of Education.

2019 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘A Treasured Dress, the Robe Volante’, part of lecture series at the National Library entitled, Power, Costume & Scenography: Making Fashion a Statement in 18th and 19th century Malta, co-ordinated by Maroma Camilleri and Mevrick Spiteri.

2020 – Caroline Tonna, Curator, Palazzo Falson in collaboration with the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta organised the Quentin Hughes symposium to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of his birth. Quentin Hughes was an architect and architectural historian who headed the School of Architecture at the Royal University of Malta in 1968 and pioneered the study of architectural history in Malta.
2020 – Webinar on Zoom, Caroline Tonna, ‘The Art of Dress in Malta, mid-19th century Winter Fashion Photography’ for the National Council of Women members.
2021 – Webinar on Zoom, Caroline Tonna, ‘Portraits of Costume in Malta’, Museum of the Order of St John, London.
2021 – Online lecture, Caroline Tonna, Dr Charlene Vella, Pierre Bugeja, ‘Art Restoration Conversation – Olof Gollcher’s Paintings’, Palazzo Falson in collaboration with History of Art Students Association (HOASA).
2021 – ICOM-DEMHIST Online Conference, Historic House Museums for a Sustainable World: Challenges and Opportunities, Caroline Tonna, curator, Palazzo Falson, ‘Bee Happy Roof Garden’.
2021 – Online lecture, The Philadelphia Club and The Institute of Classical Architecture, Caroline Tonna, ‘Does Malta ring a bell?’, A Mediterranean island and its immeasurable cultural history with a focus on Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum
2021 -International Training Programme Conference, MUZE.X Shaping Museum Futures, Caroline Tonna, ‘Greening a Historic House Museum – The Pollinator Haven Projects at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum’.
2020-2023
Caroline Tonna conducted a three-year research project titled, Fashion and Retail Evolution in the 19th and 20th century, Valletta, Malta, in collaboration with the Notarial Registers Archive, Valletta within the Office of the Chief Notary to Government, and the Faculty of Information & Communication Technology (Department of Computer Science), University of Malta. Her research draws on archival records of urban fashion retailers and shop owners, and its analytical data will feed into the Notarypedia project and it may be further developed into a virtual reality experience by the Department of Computer Science.
2023 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘Fashion in Wartime’ as part of series of lectures titled, ‘Unseen and Unheard’ stories of women under fire, organised by The Strom Petrel Foundation,
2024 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘Rationed Fashion: The Wartime Bride in Malta’, at Heritage Malta seminar, The Maltese Bride, Inquisitor’s Palace, Birgu.
2025 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘ Lost Fashion Shops of Valletta: The Untold Stories’, organised by the Notarial Archives Foundation in collaboration with The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, National Archives, St Paul Street, Valletta.
2025 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘Stitching a Living: Women Milliners and Dressmakers in 19th century Malta’, organised by Fondazzjoni ghall-Ambjent Ahjar, Phoenicia Malta.
2025 – Analytical Research work on vanishing craft and skills of the people of Birgu in collaboration with anthropologist, Dr Rachael Scicluna, engaged by the Kottonera Foundation for Birgu – Capital for Culture 2031.
2025 – Moderator of ICOM MALTA (National Committee of the International Council of Museums) seminar on Small and Independent Museums in Malta, panel discussion on Historic Houses in Malta, in collaboration with Heritage Malta. Caroline serves as Vice-President of ICOM MALTA (June 2025).

2026 – Fashion Heritage: From Storage to Digital Revival is a practice-based research project that integrates fashion heritage with emerging digital technologies, serving as the first phase toward a comprehensive online fashion heritage platform. Conceived by Caroline Tonna, the project responds to the absence of a national fashion museum in Malta by digitally documenting and reactivating fragile 18th–20th century garments held in private collections.
The project will establish the conceptual and visual framework for a sustainable, open-access digital platform, ensuring Malta’s fashion heritage is preserved, reinterpreted, and shared with international audiences.
This project is supported by the Sabbatical for Artistic Research Grant, Arts Council Malta.
2026 – University of the Third Age Malta
Throughout my career to the present day, I have delivered academic papers and lectures, participated in seminars and conferences in Malta and abroad on dress history, art, history, photography and museums.

Curatorial Work
2011 (ongoing): Costume Curator (volunteer) at Casa Rocca Piccola, lace and costume collection.
2013 – Co-curator, From Africa, for Africa by Florian Ludovick Kaija, Tanzania, St James Cavalier, Valletta, supporting and promoting African artist in Malta.
2014 – Co-curator, A Pictorial Diary of Maltese Women in Society, a photo exhibition celebrating Maltese female trailblazers, commissioned by the National Council of Women of Malta.
2018 – 2023 Sole Curator, Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Mdina, developing educational and inclusive outreach programmes, particularly during the COVID-19 closure.
2019 – Costume Curator, Music in Malta: From Pre-history to Vinyl, FPM, Cathedral Museum, Mdina. In collaboration with Caroline Tonna, a leading authority on costume, visual artist Matthew Attard, created ‘headdress’ sculptures in aluminium wire inspired by the period costume adding splendour to the costume and exhibition narrative.
2019 – A Splash of Pink, collective art exhibition, in the aid of breast cancer through the University of Malta, Research, Innovation & Development Trust (RIDT) at Gallery 23, Attard.
2024 – Curator, Pajsaggi, sole art exhibition by Victoria Agius at Wignacourt Museum, Rabat.
2024 – Curator, Caged Spaces, photographic exhibition by Patrick J. Fenech, MUZA, Valletta.

Selected published articles and books
C. Tonna, ‘Did Caravaggio paint it?’, Sunday Times of Malta, Culture and Entertainment, Art, !5 April, 2012.
C. Tonna, ‘Behind the Scenes’ in N. de Piro (ed), Ladies of Malta in Extravagant & Spectacular Maltese, Casa Rocca Piccola Books, 2013.
C. Tonna, ‘The Impact of Photography on Edward and Robert Caruana Dingli’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Christmas, 2014
C. Tonna, ‘The Creative Collaboration between Painters and Photographers in Malta’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Summer 2014
C. Tonna, ‘Leandro Preziosi – Pioneer Photographer in Malta and his connections with Istanbul’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Christmas 2018
C. Tonna, ‘Women and Early Photography in Malta – Adelaide Conroy and Lucrezia Preziosi’ in J.Abela and E.Buttigieg (eds.), Parallel Existence, The Notarial Archives A Photographer’s Inspiration, Alex Attard, Kite, 2018.

C. Tonna, ‘Leandro Preziosi (1830-1869): The Pioneering Maltese Professional Social in Floriana and Valletta’, in M. Abdilla Cunningham, M. Camilleri, G. Vella (eds.), Humillima Civitas Vallettae: From Mount Xebb-er-ras to European Capital of Culture, Heritage Malta Libraries, 2018.

C. Tonna, ‘The fascinating faldetta’ in M.A. Falzon (ed), The Examined Life Writings in honour of Guido Lanfranco Midsea Books, 2019

C. Tonna, ‘A History of Love’ in Il-Bizzilla Magazine, AirMalta plc., February 2019
C. Tonna, ‘Ugo Cali: An artist and portrait photographer of the early twentieth century’ in in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Christmas 2019
C. Tonna, ‘Frar Fawwar Jimla l-Bjar – The Medieval Wells of Palazzo Falson’ in Il-Bizzilla Magazine, AirMalta plc., February 2020
C. Tonna, ‘A Dip in the 30’s’ in Il-Bizzilla Magazine, AirMalta plc., August 2020
C. Tonna, ‘In the Style of a Robe Volante a treasured dress’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Easter 2020
C. Tonna, ‘Jekk tfittex issib’ in S. Grech (ed), Bejn Storja u Miti, L-Imhallef Giovanni Bonello, Gabra ta’ Kitbiet, Horizons, 2021

C. Tonna, Fashion Society in Malta: The portrait photography of Leandro Preziosi 1830–1869, FPM, 2022 (Award winning publication)
C. Tonna, ‘The Distinctive Maltese Period Dress in the Style of the Robe Volante’ in M. Camilleri and M. Spiteri (eds.), Power, Costume and Scenography, Making Fashion a Statement in 18th – 19th Century Malta, Proceedings of the Public Lectures Series 2019-2020 held at the National Library of Malta, Valletta, edited by, BDL , 2022.

C. Tonna, ‘The World’s a Stage – Theatrical Dress in the Photographic Portraiture of Leandro Preziosi’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Easter 2022
C. Tonna, ‘A Beauty from the Empire Era at Palazzo Falson’ in Il-Bizzilla Magazine, AirMalta plc., March 2023
C.Tonna, ‘Olof Frederick Gollcher: art at heart’, Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum catalogue, supported by Fondi.eu, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, 2024.
C. Tonna, ‘Female Entrepreneurs in dressmaking and millinery in the 19th century’ in Y.Vella (ed.), Discovering Women’s History in Malta, edited by, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, 2024.

C. Tonna, ‘The Poetics of the Gaze in P.J. Fenech (ed), CAGED SPACES, A photographer’s gaze of Malta at the turn of the millennium, Kite, 2024.

C. Tonna, Foreword in K. Casha, Straight to the Point, Kevin Casha, 2024.

Unpublished dissertation:
B.A. Hons, Faculty of Arts, Department of Anthropological Science
In her own image? : a cultural study of cosmetic breast enhancement

B.A. Hons. Faculty of Arts, Department of Art and Art History
C. Tonna, The creative collaboration between painters and photographers in Malta : two case studies, 2013

M.A. Faculty of Arts, Department of Art and Art History

C.Tonna, Leonardo Preziosi: portrait photographer and the art of dress inthe second half of nineteenth century Malta

Awards
2023 – Icon Award for Fashion Journalism, Malta Fashion Week
2023 – National Book Council Malta – Best Publication Production for ‘Fashion Society in Malta: Portrait Photographer Leandro Preziosi 1830-1869, Fondazzjoni Patrimonu Malti, 2022.

Other:
2013 – 2017: Board Member of Arts Council Malta
2021 – 2024: Board Member of the National Archives Foundation
2024 to present day Vice-Chair of ICOM Malta
2024 to present day Board Member of Postal Museum Malta

Skills & Competencies

• Conceptual & creative development
• Artistic direction of multidisciplinary nature
• Curating art and costume exhibitions
• Costume Mounting, create period silhouettes and underpinnings
• Produce and host art and cultural media productions
• Research and writing on historic dress and photography
• Academic conference presentations and public lectures, seminars and workshops

Languages:

• Maltese (native)
• English – Very good
• Italian – Very good listening/reading, good spoken/written
• French – Good listening/reading, basic spoken/written

Other:

• Clean Police Conduct
• Clean driving license (since 1982)
• Hobbies: Visit art and fashion exhibitions, theatre, travel and yoga.

Caroline’s 40-year career of diverse experiences and her strong passion for historic dress demonstrate her ability to merge her academic depth and creative vision, underscoring her maturity, reliability and commitment to lead, educate and inspire across multiple platforms.

Updated June 2025Dress Historian – Multidisciplinary Artist – Curator – Artistic Director – Author – Researcher – Broadcaster
EDUCATION
2008: B.A. (Hons) (Melit) Anthropology, University of Malta
2013: B.A. (Hons) (Melit) History of Art, University of Malta (First Class Honours)
2017: M.A. (Melit) History of Art, University of Malta (with Distinction)
TRAINING
1990: Journalism & Magazine Production – Confederation of Malta Trade Unions
2013: TEFL qualified
2014: VIVA Curatorial School, Valletta
2014: Cultural Journalism, COPEAM Euro-Med Organisation
2017: Curatorial mentorship at Museu Nacional do Traje, Lisbon, Portugal
2018: V&A Academy, International Course in Curating Fashion and Dress
2019: The Attingham Trust – London House Course, directed by David Adshead, on the development of the London house from the Renaissance to the present.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Editorial work
1982 – 1994: Founder, Editor of Elegance Magazine
2001 – 2002: I DO Wedding Magazine (Standard Publications)
2009: Co-Editor, Phase magazine, youth career magazine (Progress Press)

Broadcasting Cultural Programmes
2006-2008 TV Producer/Studio Host VITALITA, OneTV, engaging with health, beauty and well-being specialists.
2012 – Radio Producer/Studio Host KUN AF PAJJIZEK, RTK, engaging with museum curators on Maltese heritage.
2012 – Producer/Host, TVM News Breakfast Show, Cultural News, PBS, weekly features on artists, current exhibitions and cultural events.
2013 – Producer/Host, TVM Evening News Bulletin, PBS, presenting weekly cultural events in Malta.
2014 – Producer/Host, KULTEMA, weekly cultural TV programme in collaboration with Arts Council Malta and PBS, introducing current Maltese and international artists and their works.
2015 – Producer/Host, MALTARTI (previously KULTEMA), weekly cultural TV programme in collaboration with Arts Council Malta and PBS, featuring artists in the art and culture scene.
2016 – 2019 Co-producer/Host, MALTARTI, weekly cultural programme, in collaboration with Sarah Lee Zammit, Arts Council Malta and PBS, featuring artists in the art and culture scene.

2019 – Producer/Host, MODA L-ISTORJA TV documentary, a 13-part series based on extensive research in dress history, produced by Sharp Shoot Media.

CURATORIAL AND ARTISTIC DIRECTION

2018 – Artistic Direction, Nostalgia, Notions and Nonsense Poetry soiree event, including costume and dance at Salesian Theatre, Sliema, Malta in aid of Fondazzjoni Flimkien ghall-Ambjent Ahjar.
2019 – Artistic Direction, Folly, Fantasy and Feeling, A light-hearted Poetry soiree event, including costume and dance at Salesian Theatre in aid of the Save Valletta’s Skyline Appeal
2011: Artistic Direction, KWALITA’ MALTA Fashion Design Pavilion, bringing together well-established fashion designers and artisans, including young talented designers from MCAST students.
2012-2013: Artistic Direction, Ladies of Malta in Extravagant & Spectacular Maltese Lace. Historic lace pieces in collaboration with artist and photographer, Patrick J Fenech, combining historic lace pieces with photography and contemporary aesthetics
2024 – Co-Artistic Direction, Curious Beauty: an alternative costume exhibition, with Francesca Balzan, at Palazzo Falson, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti – an immersive contemporary art installation and a celebration of decorative arts and creativity.
2025 – Artistic Direction – Reimaged Fashion Photography in collaboration with fashion photographer, Brian Grech.
2026 – Practice-led research project, Fashion Heritage: From Storage to Digital Revival, merging historic costume with emerging digital technologies to create an online fashion heritage platform, supported by Arts Council Malta.

ACADEMIC WORK

2016 – PREVARTI, The Art Conservation Centre, ‘Costume, Jewellery & Objets d’Art’ course, Francesca Balzan, Nicholas de Piro and Caroline Tonna.
2017 – Caroline Tonna presented a paper on ‘Extravagant dress of the Maltese gentry and nobility in private collections at Wolverhampton University, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences Workshop, ‘Luxury and Exoticism: Textiles and Dress in Museums and Historic Houses,
2018 – Caroline Tonna panel speaker at MICAS concept launch, Conversations on the Rock series discussions, exploring the notion of the contemporary and its role in society at MCAST, Paola.

2018 – Caroline Tonna, Visiting Lecturer, course-study MSN 4015, ‘Decorative Arts in Dress’, University of Malta, Dept. of Health, Physical and Consumer Studies, Faculty of Education.

2019 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘A Treasured Dress, the Robe Volante’, part of lecture series at the National Library entitled, Power, Costume & Scenography: Making Fashion a Statement in 18th and 19th century Malta, co-ordinated by Maroma Camilleri and Mevrick Spiteri.

2020 – Caroline Tonna, Curator, Palazzo Falson in collaboration with the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta organised the Quentin Hughes symposium to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of his birth. Quentin Hughes was an architect and architectural historian who headed the School of Architecture at the Royal University of Malta in 1968 and pioneered the study of architectural history in Malta.
2020 – Webinar on Zoom, Caroline Tonna, ‘The Art of Dress in Malta, mid-19th century Winter Fashion Photography’ for the National Council of Women members.
2021 – Webinar on Zoom, Caroline Tonna, ‘Portraits of Costume in Malta’, Museum of the Order of St John, London.
2021 – Online lecture, Caroline Tonna, Dr Charlene Vella, Pierre Bugeja, ‘Art Restoration Conversation – Olof Gollcher’s Paintings’, Palazzo Falson in collaboration with History of Art Students Association (HOASA).
2021 – ICOM-DEMHIST Online Conference, Historic House Museums for a Sustainable World: Challenges and Opportunities, Caroline Tonna, curator, Palazzo Falson, ‘Bee Happy Roof Garden’.
2021 – Online lecture, The Philadelphia Club and The Institute of Classical Architecture, Caroline Tonna, ‘Does Malta ring a bell?’, A Mediterranean island and its immeasurable cultural history with a focus on Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum
2021 -International Training Programme Conference, MUZE.X Shaping Museum Futures, Caroline Tonna, ‘Greening a Historic House Museum – The Pollinator Haven Projects at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum’.
2020-2023
Caroline Tonna conducted a three-year research project titled, Fashion and Retail Evolution in the 19th and 20th century, Valletta, Malta, in collaboration with the Notarial Registers Archive, Valletta within the Office of the Chief Notary to Government, and the Faculty of Information & Communication Technology (Department of Computer Science), University of Malta. Her research draws on archival records of urban fashion retailers and shop owners, and its analytical data will feed into the Notarypedia project and it may be further developed into a virtual reality experience by the Department of Computer Science.
2023 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘Fashion in Wartime’ as part of series of lectures titled, ‘Unseen and Unheard’ stories of women under fire, organised by The Strom Petrel Foundation,
2024 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘Rationed Fashion: The Wartime Bride in Malta’, at Heritage Malta seminar, The Maltese Bride, Inquisitor’s Palace, Birgu.
2025 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘ Lost Fashion Shops of Valletta: The Untold Stories’, organised by the Notarial Archives Foundation in collaboration with The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, National Archives, St Paul Street, Valletta.
2025 – Caroline Tonna, Public Lecture, ‘Stitching a Living: Women Milliners and Dressmakers in 19th century Malta’, organised by Fondazzjoni ghall-Ambjent Ahjar, Phoenicia Malta.
2025 – Analytical Research work on vanishing craft and skills of the people of Birgu in collaboration with anthropologist, Dr Rachael Scicluna, engaged by the Kottonera Foundation for Birgu – Capital for Culture 2031.
2025 – Moderator of ICOM MALTA (National Committee of the International Council of Museums) seminar on Small and Independent Museums in Malta, panel discussion on Historic Houses in Malta, in collaboration with Heritage Malta. Caroline serves as Vice-President of ICOM MALTA (June 2025).

2026 – Fashion Heritage: From Storage to Digital Revival is a practice-based research project that integrates fashion heritage with emerging digital technologies, serving as the first phase toward a comprehensive online fashion heritage platform. Conceived by Caroline Tonna, the project responds to the absence of a national fashion museum in Malta by digitally documenting and reactivating fragile 18th–20th century garments held in private collections.
The project will establish the conceptual and visual framework for a sustainable, open-access digital platform, ensuring Malta’s fashion heritage is preserved, reinterpreted, and shared with international audiences.
This project is supported by the Sabbatical for Artistic Research Grant, Arts Council Malta.
2026 – University of the Third Age Malta
Throughout my career to the present day, I have delivered academic papers and lectures, participated in seminars and conferences in Malta and abroad on dress history, art, history, photography and museums.

Curatorial Work
2011 (ongoing): Costume Curator (volunteer) at Casa Rocca Piccola, lace and costume collection.
2013 – Co-curator, From Africa, for Africa by Florian Ludovick Kaija, Tanzania, St James Cavalier, Valletta, supporting and promoting African artist in Malta.
2014 – Co-curator, A Pictorial Diary of Maltese Women in Society, a photo exhibition celebrating Maltese female trailblazers, commissioned by the National Council of Women of Malta.
2018 – 2023 Sole Curator, Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Mdina, developing educational and inclusive outreach programmes, particularly during the COVID-19 closure.
2019 – Costume Curator, Music in Malta: From Pre-history to Vinyl, FPM, Cathedral Museum, Mdina. In collaboration with Caroline Tonna, a leading authority on costume, visual artist Matthew Attard, created ‘headdress’ sculptures in aluminium wire inspired by the period costume adding splendour to the costume and exhibition narrative.
2019 – A Splash of Pink, collective art exhibition, in the aid of breast cancer through the University of Malta, Research, Innovation & Development Trust (RIDT) at Gallery 23, Attard.
2024 – Curator, Pajsaggi, sole art exhibition by Victoria Agius at Wignacourt Museum, Rabat.
2024 – Curator, Caged Spaces, photographic exhibition by Patrick J. Fenech, MUZA, Valletta.

Selected published articles and books
C. Tonna, ‘Did Caravaggio paint it?’, Sunday Times of Malta, Culture and Entertainment, Art, !5 April, 2012.
C. Tonna, ‘Behind the Scenes’ in N. de Piro (ed), Ladies of Malta in Extravagant & Spectacular Maltese, Casa Rocca Piccola Books, 2013.
C. Tonna, ‘The Impact of Photography on Edward and Robert Caruana Dingli’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Christmas, 2014
C. Tonna, ‘The Creative Collaboration between Painters and Photographers in Malta’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Summer 2014
C. Tonna, ‘Leandro Preziosi – Pioneer Photographer in Malta and his connections with Istanbul’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Christmas 2018
C. Tonna, ‘Women and Early Photography in Malta – Adelaide Conroy and Lucrezia Preziosi’ in J.Abela and E.Buttigieg (eds.), Parallel Existence, The Notarial Archives A Photographer’s Inspiration, Alex Attard, Kite, 2018.

C. Tonna, ‘Leandro Preziosi (1830-1869): The Pioneering Maltese Professional Social in Floriana and Valletta’, in M. Abdilla Cunningham, M. Camilleri, G. Vella (eds.), Humillima Civitas Vallettae: From Mount Xebb-er-ras to European Capital of Culture, Heritage Malta Libraries, 2018.

C. Tonna, ‘The fascinating faldetta’ in M.A. Falzon (ed), The Examined Life Writings in honour of Guido Lanfranco Midsea Books, 2019

C. Tonna, ‘A History of Love’ in Il-Bizzilla Magazine, AirMalta plc., February 2019
C. Tonna, ‘Ugo Cali: An artist and portrait photographer of the early twentieth century’ in in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Christmas 2019
C. Tonna, ‘Frar Fawwar Jimla l-Bjar – The Medieval Wells of Palazzo Falson’ in Il-Bizzilla Magazine, AirMalta plc., February 2020
C. Tonna, ‘A Dip in the 30’s’ in Il-Bizzilla Magazine, AirMalta plc., August 2020
C. Tonna, ‘In the Style of a Robe Volante a treasured dress’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Easter 2020
C. Tonna, ‘Jekk tfittex issib’ in S. Grech (ed), Bejn Storja u Miti, L-Imhallef Giovanni Bonello, Gabra ta’ Kitbiet, Horizons, 2021

C. Tonna, Fashion Society in Malta: The portrait photography of Leandro Preziosi 1830–1869, FPM, 2022 (Award winning publication)
C. Tonna, ‘The Distinctive Maltese Period Dress in the Style of the Robe Volante’ in M. Camilleri and M. Spiteri (eds.), Power, Costume and Scenography, Making Fashion a Statement in 18th – 19th Century Malta, Proceedings of the Public Lectures Series 2019-2020 held at the National Library of Malta, Valletta, edited by, BDL , 2022.

C. Tonna, ‘The World’s a Stage – Theatrical Dress in the Photographic Portraiture of Leandro Preziosi’ in G. Bonello (ed), Treasures of Malta, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malta, Easter 2022
C. Tonna, ‘A Beauty from the Empire Era at Palazzo Falson’ in Il-Bizzilla Magazine, AirMalta plc., March 2023
C.Tonna, ‘Olof Frederick Gollcher: art at heart’, Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum catalogue, supported by Fondi.eu, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, 2024.
C. Tonna, ‘Female Entrepreneurs in dressmaking and millinery in the 19th century’ in Y.Vella (ed.), Discovering Women’s History in Malta, edited by, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, 2024.

C. Tonna, ‘The Poetics of the Gaze in P.J. Fenech (ed), CAGED SPACES, A photographer’s gaze of Malta at the turn of the millennium, Kite, 2024.

C. Tonna, Foreword in K. Casha, Straight to the Point, Kevin Casha, 2024.

C. Tonna, Reflections by Caroline Tonna, A day in the life of Alfredo Ciancio – from his ‘diary’, 1913, in Kevin Casha, The Ciancio Legacy: Four generations of photography, Mario Ciancio & Kevin Casha, 2026.

Unpublished dissertation:
B.A. Hons, Faculty of Arts, Department of Anthropological Science
In her own image? : a cultural study of cosmetic breast enhancement
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/79029

B.A. Hons. Faculty of Arts, Department of Art and Art History
C. Tonna, The creative collaboration between painters and photographers in Malta : two case studies, 2013
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/9139

Awards
2023 – Icon Award for Fashion Journalism, Malta Fashion Week
2023 – National Book Council Malta – Best Publication Production for ‘Fashion Society in Malta: Portrait Photographer Leandro Preziosi 1830-1869, Fondazzjoni Patrimonu Malti, 2022.

Other:
2013 – 2017: Board Member of Arts Council Malta
2021 – 2024: Board Member of the National Archives Foundation
2024 to present day Vice-Chair of ICOM Malta
2024 to present day Board Member of Postal Museum Malta

Skills & Competencies

• Conceptual & creative development
• Artistic direction of multidisciplinary nature
  •Curating art and costume exhibitions
• Costume Mounting, create period silhouettes and underpinnings
• Produce and host art and cultural media productions
• Research and writing on historic dress and photography
• Academic conference presentations and public lectures, seminars and workshops

Languages:

• Maltese (native)
• English – Very good
• Italian – Very good listening/reading, good spoken/written
• French – Good listening/reading, basic spoken/written

Other:

• Clean Police Conduct
• Clean driving license (since 1982)
• Hobbies: Visit art and fashion exhibitions, theatre, travel and yoga.

Caroline’s 40-year career of diverse experiences and her strong passion for historic dress demonstrate her ability to merge her academic depth and creative vision, underscoring her maturity, reliability and commitment to lead, educate and inspire across multiple platforms.

Updated June 2025