On April 24, 1852 the British Secretary of State wrote to the respective administrations in the Imperial Colonies to solicit the founding of an association similar to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, established in London. The then Governor of Malta, Sir William Reid, obliged by enlisting the collaboration of Baron C Azopardi and of others to form the first Management Committee of the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

During the 150+ of active years the Society organized competitions, exhibitions, participated in overseas expositions, and awarded medals. Many Maltese artists and artisans had been also aided to proceed abroad to further and complete their academic and artistic studies. The Society thus gained enough prestige to acquire official recognition and the Patronship of different Governors, successive Presidents and Archbishops of Malta.

The Society was the first institution in Malta to set up a School of Lace, organized adult classes in arts, crafts and music., has pioneered the Apprenticeship Schemes, Technical education, and represented in Malta the London College of Music of Thames Valley University (London) for nearly 80 years, with Palazzo De La Salle as the Malta Centre for these Examinations.

Maltese Governments helped the Society over the years, through an annual financial grant and free concessions, including the lease of Palazzo De La Salle from where the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce conducts and carries out its multifarious activities.

The year 2002 will undoubtedly remain the most significant of the Malta Society’s glorious past, as it celebrated the 150th Anniversary of its foundation with a series of activities. The Society is listed as a Government Entity in the First Schedule of Act V of 2002, approved by Parliament on 26 April 2002.