ARTS COUNCIL MALTA WILL OVERSEE AN EXTENSIVE FUNDING PROGRAMME OF €6.5 MILLION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW INDIGENOUS FILM FUND. EXECUTIVE CHAIR LUKE DALLI SHARES INSIGHT ON HOW THESE FIT WITHIN THE UPCOMING STRATEGY 2030.
Growth has brought opportunity to Malta’s cultural and creative sectors, but it has also exposed gaps around sustainability, professional conditions and long-term direction. In response Arts Council Malta (ACM) has placed renewed emphasis on how public investment is structured, managed, and delivered with Strategy 2030 – the forthcoming framework for the cultural and creative sectors – currently being developed through an extensive participatory process. The latter involves practitioners, organisations and stakeholders working across different disciplines and contexts.
The strategy, which is expected to be launched later this year, is intended to set out longer-term priorities and direction for the sector. In parallel, a new funding cycle for 2026 has been designed to align with this emerging framework, ensuring that public investment supports sustainability, professional development and long-term resilience, rather than operating in isolation.
“The focus is on ensuring that funding does more than support isolated activity,” ACM Executive Chair Dr Luke Dalli starts. “Public investment needs to work as a system, bring consistency and purpose to the way cultural work is being supported, while remaining responsive to the realities artists and organisations face on the ground.”
Throughout 2026, ACM will oversee an extensive funding programme that sees a public investment of €6.5 million channelled through at least 32 individual calls across 20 funding schemes, reaching a broad cross-section of the cultural and creative sectors. The scale of the programme reflects the direction to support cultural activity at multiple levels, from individual practice to sector-wide development.
The schemes are structured to support different realities within the sector. Some are aimed at individual artists and creative professionals, others at cultural organisations, schools, broadcasters and community-based initiatives. Each scheme carries its own eligibility criteria, allowing funding to be matched to specific needs rather than applied uniformly across the board.
“A number of schemes focus on cultural continuity and heritage. The Artistic Heritage Scheme supports initiatives that sustain traditional cultural practices, while the Restoration Funding Scheme provides resources for the conservation of heritage artefacts. We will also be issuing the Micro Grant call, which offers targeted support to individuals seeking to strengthen their skills, develop their practice, or take the next professional step,” Dalli elaborates.
Cross-border collaboration features through initiatives like the Regional Cultural Cooperation Programme. This scheme encourages partnerships beyond Malta, enabling artists and organisations to engage in shared projects that strengthen regional networks and expand professional horizons within the arts and heritage sectors.
“We are also prioritising support for professional growth and enterprise through the Apprenticeship Scheme and the Creative Innovators and Platforms Fund. Both place emphasis on skills development, innovation and the creation of sustainable creative ventures, addressing the practical realities of working in the arts over the long term,” he adds.
The Arts Support Scheme provides funding for the creation and presentation of artistic work across disciplines. It supports high-quality projects, encourages experimentation and prioritises public access and participation, contributing to a more active and engaged cultural landscape.
Audiovisual practice is addressed through the Screen Support Scheme, structured across six strands. These support projects from writing and development through to production and international distribution, with a focus on professional capacity-building and audience reach within Malta and beyond.
Other funding streams address participation, diversity and well-being. These schemes support arts initiatives that promote access to culture, creative expression and social inclusion. Media-focused schemes, including support for newspapers and Maltese music on private radio stations, aim to strengthen local cultural content, encourage audience engagement and support sustainability within the media sector.
Training and development schemes support learning, mentorship and cultural participation across different age groups, linking artists, educators and communities. Two further schemes focus on international engagement, supporting Maltese artists and organisations to take part in overseas events and collaborative exchanges.
“There is often a false divide between creativity and professional practice,” Dalli notes. “In reality, they feed each other and one cannot thrive without the other. Funding is structured to prioritise long-term development, professional continuity and organisational stability, rather than focusing solely on one-off projects. The aim is to enable artists and practitioners to plan beyond single funding cycles and build viable practices over time.”
International engagement is also embedded within funding delivery, reflecting the realities of a sector shaped by mobility, collaboration and cross-border exchange. Funding mechanisms take account of European labour conditions, including the prevalence of self-employment, short-term contracts and income instability, particularly among young and emerging practitioners. “Precarity is not unique to Malta,” Dalli says. “It’s part of a wider global trend, which makes international engagement an important condition for professional sustainability and skills development.”
Alongside its broader funding remit, ACM has also strengthened sector-specific support through the Domestic Film Development and Strategy Unit. While screen support funds continue to grow year on year, the Unit extends support beyond financial assistance while responding to long-standing needs within the sector, particularly around visibility, coordination, and long-term planning.
“Screen support funding continues to form an important part of our priorities. The Unit’s remit builds on this by placing attention on areas that shape how the industry functions day to day. Networking, collaboration and strategic development are crucial and the Unit places a strong emphasis on creating conditions that allow local producers and filmmakers to move forward with confidence,” Dalli says.
International exposure is another key priority to allow the indigenous film industry to move forward. The Unit is working to support Maltese producers and filmmakers in accessing co-production opportunities and professional networks beyond Malta. A major early step was securing membership in Eurimages, which enables Maltese projects to enter co-productions with partners from other member countries. This provides access to new funding structures and strengthens the international profile of local work.
In parallel, presence at international festivals and markets will increase with ACM attending key industry events to promote Maltese projects and talent, while dedicated Malta stands will offer producers a practical base for meetings and discussions. These shared spaces are intended to support professional exchange and make local participation in international markets more visible and organised. Other initiatives will focus on developing industry skills and encouraging stronger connections between practitioners.
Photo captions
AĦNA HAWN by Matthias Camilleri during Premju 2025 • Photo by Darren Agius
Retold • Photo by Darren Agius
Premju Għall-Arti 2025 • Photo by Darren Agius
ACM top management • Photo by Albert Camilleri
