The scheme has two options: a State aid option and a non-State aid option. The State aid option is available to undertakings that carry out an economic activity within the meaning of Article 107 TFEU, for which assistance will be granted in line with the de minimis Regulation. The non-State aid option is available to those applicants that do not carry out an economic activity within the meaning of Article 107 TFEU as well as to proposed projects that would not involve such an economic activity. Kindly refer to Section 9 of these guidelines for additional information.

Applicants must be Maltese citizens or be in possession of a Maltese residence permit or of a Maltese citizenship certificate or of a Maltese passport.

Furthermore, applicants must qualify as one of the following:

• Creative professionals/individual artists
• Entities registered with the Malta Business Registry (including companies, partnerships, foundations and organisations/associations)
• Groups, collectives and consortia
• Registered cooperatives
• Voluntary Organisations enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.

Click here to download the guidelines and click here to download the application template.

Application Deadline: 26th May at noon

Rank Order

Beneficiary: Christina Lejman

Reference number: ICE32-26-9178

Project Title: YOU, ME & the rest of the world – Leeds Playhouse Industry Showcase

Amount awarded: €15,000

YOU, ME & the rest of the world is a wholly original Maltese musical with book, music and lyrics by Hollie Cassar that explores what truly makes a family, and how those bonds endure across time. Its drama lies not in spectacle but in the everyday: two women navigating the challenges of queer motherhood, and a young woman confronting love, control and an unexpected pregnancy. Following previous Arts Council Malta-supported Research & Development in 2024, this project supports the next step in the musical’s journey: a professional international industry showcase at Leeds Playhouse. A two-week rehearsal period will culminate in a presentation for producers, programmers and artistic directors, with an additional sharing for the wider community, positioning the work for future production while amplifying Maltese creativity and queer narratives on the international stage.

Beneficiary: Jesmond Vassallo

Reference number: ICE07-26-8902

Project Title: Contours Revisited : A Living Dialogue

Amount awarded: €12,250

Contours Revisited: A Living Dialogue is a printmaking exchange and residency connecting Malta, Sweden, Mexico, France, and beyond. Jesmond Vassallo will develop a new body of lithographic works inspired by research carried out at the Frank Portelli Foundation, Malta. The initial drawings will be presented at the 9th International Lithography Symposium in Tidaholm, Sweden. Vassallo will then develop the lithographs as part of a masterclass at Atelier d’Estampe Nicolaï in Cognac, France. This residency will position Vassallo’s printmaking studio, Atelier 10, and Maltese lithography within global discourse. The project will conclude with a public presentation at the Frank Portelli Foundation to disseminate the research and technical outcomes. By bridging local heritage with international expertise, Contours Revisited will elevate the visibility of Maltese contemporary lithography and fine art printmaking and establish enduring cross-border partnerships.

Beneficiary: Gulja Holland

Reference number: ICE19-26-8997

Project Title: Turps Summer Intensive Residency

Amount awarded: €9,775

This project, developed during the two-month Turps residency in London, extends my painting series for the Malta Biennale 2026 project entitled ‘Through The Looking Glass’, focusing on spectatorship and the constructed boundaries between humans and animals. Through painting, drawing, documentation, photography and field trips, I shall investigate how zoo environments frame animals within controlled, sanitised systems of display, reinforcing human dominance while masking ecological entanglement. The experience shall enrich my practice through weekly group critiques, workshops, gallery visits, guest talks, mentoring sessions with Turps tutors, and esteemed guests. The project will result in two large-scale paintings, a series of works on paper, and digital collages developed through research, drawing, and studio experimentation. This residency will support the development of a new body of work as well as an end-of-residency exhibition that shall contribute to my international exhibition programme while strengthening my engagement with contemporary painting discourse in London.

Beneficiary: Karl Fiorini

Reference number: ICE20-26-9002

Project Title: Cartographies of Sound

Amount awarded: €6,988

This project is an artistic residency focused on the composition and world-premiere performance of a new piano trio (violin, violoncello and piano), by composer Karl Fiorini, in collaboration with faculty members of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. During the residency (19–31 October 2026), the composer will work closely with the performers through rehearsals and workshops to refine the piece. The project also includes a pedagogical component, with composition workshops and chamber music masterclasses for students of the Academy. In addition, the residency provides opportunities for professional exchange with other faculty members, supporting future collaborations. The project will culminate in a public performance at the Academy’s Bolesław Szabelski Auditorium. It combines creation, performance, and education, contributing to international artistic exchange between Malta and Poland and to the development of new chamber music repertoire.

Beneficiary: Viper Soup Complex

Reference Number: ICE15-26-8975

Project Title: Viper Soup Complex on Tour 2027

Amount awarded: €10,920

Viper Soup Complex is a Maltese progressive experimental fusion band combining music, theatre, and visual art in immersive performances. Their 2027 touring programme focuses on international collaboration and cultural exchange, building on growing interest across Europe, particularly in the UK. The band will appear at festivals and venues across Europe, and for the first time in Slovenia at the Ljubljana Prog Festival, where they will represent Malta as the sole Maltese act and foster long-term collaboration with Slovenian artists. A reciprocal exchange will further strengthen artistic links between the two countries as new plans and projects are in discussion. Supported by funding for travel, logistics, and promotion, the project aims to strengthen international mobility, expand audiences, and promote Maltese contemporary music within wider European progressive music networks.

Beneficiary: Charlene Galea

Reference Number: ICE13-26-8927

Project Title: ‘Tear Vases’ (Mahalla Festival, Istanbul)

Amount awarded: €5,419

Tear Vases is a site-specific performance developed at Büyük Valide Han in Istanbul as part of the Mahalla Festival 2026 (KĪMIYĀ – The Alchemist’s Assembly) in September. Working within the Han, I will immerse myself in its material and social environment, developing a performance language through embodied practice, gesture, and found elements.

The work draws on the figure of Kösem Sultan through linked histories of shelter and female agency within the space and on the symbolism of tear vases as vessels of grief. Through this, it explores how memory, loss, and resilience are carried and transformed through the body. Created in dialogue with the site and alongside a group of international artists, Tear Vases unfolds as a live performance shaped by presence, encounter, and process.

Beneficiary: Bettina Paris

Reference Number: ICE56-26-9242

Project Title: Summerhall Surgeries Sharing, 4-night Edinburgh Festival Fringe development opportunity + Arvon Writing Residency

Amount awarded: €4,193

Rehearsal and work-in-progress sharing of a snippet of the new, original play Wild One, at Summerhall Surgeries during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, alongside a four-day networking and artistic development opportunity at the festival. Feedback and research gathered during this phase will directly inform Bettina’s participation in Arvon’s Residential Writing Course: Theatre, led by acclaimed playwrights Ella Hickson and Amy Rosenthal, to achieve a first full draft of the play. Wild One is a one-woman play written and performed by Bettina Paris and directed by Offie Award-nominated director Laura Killeen, exploring how Malta’s nightlife and club culture shape young adults’ experiences of freedom, relationships, sexuality, consent, and identity. Combining scripted theatre and live DJing, the project experiments with an interdisciplinary performance form that blurs the boundaries between theatre and live music performance.

Beneficiary: Steve Hili

Reference Number: ICE02-26-8859

Project Title: Steve Hili – Manaconda Tour 2026/27

Amount awarded: €3,082

Steve Hili is taking his full one-hour show Manacondaon a European tour. Blending sharp observational humour, audience interaction, and provocative themes Manaconda translates local perspectives into a universal comedic language allowing Maltese narratives to connect with diverse audiences while maintaining a distinct cultural identity. Hili is taking his bold, unapologetic storytelling to Vienna (shorter, warm-up gig), Salzburg, Prague, and Athens, expanding Malta’s presence within the international comedy circuit and exporting his Maltese perspective to the world! As the only Maltese comedian to work as a professional stand up comedian abroad, Steve Hili is uniquely positioned to scale this work beyond Malta. Following a tour last year where he headlined comedy clubs, this next phase – taking his full show on the road – represents a critical step toward building sustainable international networks and developing the show even more—positioning stand-up comedy as a viable and exportable Maltese cultural form.

Beneficiary: Socjeta’ Filarmonika L-Unjoni

Reference Number: ICE10-26-8921

Project Title: Mediterranean Harmonies: A Maltese Wind Band in Greece

Amount awarded: €15,000

The Soċjetà Filarmonika L-Unjoni, established in 1880, respectfully submits this proposal to Arts Council Malta requesting financial support for an international cultural exchange and performance programme in Patras, Greece. As a long-standing community-based organisation, the Society plays a central role in preserving and promoting Malta’s wind band tradition, contributing actively to the island’s cultural identity through performances, education, and community engagement.

Participation in this programme offers a valuable opportunity to present Malta’s wind band culture on an international stage while engaging in artistic exchange with musicians from diverse backgrounds. Through concerts and collaborative activities, our musicians will broaden their artistic perspectives and strengthen their professional development. This initiative will not only enhance the Society’s artistic growth but also contribute to the continued evolution of Malta’s musical heritage, ensuring that knowledge gained is shared locally for lasting cultural impact.

Beneficiary: Big Friends Guggen Musik Malta A.D. 2008

Reference Number: ICE29-26-9134

Project Title: Bridging Cultures Through Music, Malta–Bulgaria Folklore Exchange 2026

Amount awarded: €15,000

The project “Bridging Cultures Through Music: Malta–Bulgaria Folklore Exchange 2026” will see Big Friends Guggen Musik Malta A.D. 2008 participate in the International Folklore Festival “Maleshevo Sings and Dances” in Mikrevo, Bulgaria, organised by the Municipality of Strumyani. This international cultural exchange brings together folklore groups from across Europe to celebrate traditional music, dance, and shared heritage. The project provides a valuable platform for Maltese musical culture to be showcased internationally, enhancing artistic visibility and promoting cultural dialogue between Malta and Bulgaria. Participation will strengthen the group’s artistic development through exposure to international audiences and performance standards, while also supporting the growth of its musicians, composers, and musical director. This opportunity contributes to the internationalisation of Maltese cultural expression, expanding the ensemble’s reach beyond local audiences and fostering future artistic collaborations. Overall, the project reinforces cultural exchange, artistic growth, and Malta’s presence in the European folklore community.

Beneficiary: Rochelle Gatt

Reference Number: ICE35-26-9198

Project Title: Roots

Amount awarded: €11,720

This international cultural exchange consists of an R&D arts residency in Belgium, bringing together an international multidisciplinary collective of artists, facilitators, researchers, and psychologists from Malta, Belgium, France, Portugal, Luxembourg, Russia and Serbia, with the support of an arts venue in Belgium and an artistic advisor from the UK. The residency supports Maltese artist Rochelle Gatt in the development of ROOTS, a participatory arts and research project exploring migration, belonging, memory, identity, displacement, and intercultural dialogue through trauma-informed, socially engaged practice. The residency will function as a laboratory for the creation of an interdisciplinary artistic and methodological framework grounded in cultural participation, embodied practice, collective care, and community engagement. It will also lay the foundation for future workshops, performances, podcasts, exhibitions, and participatory activities across European contexts.

Beneficiary: Philip Leone Ganado

Reference Number: ICE51-26-9235

Project Title: WhatsTheirNames Theatre – Verona Shakespeare Fringe Festival

Amount awarded: €15,000

WhatsTheirNames Theatre has been invited to perform at the Verona Shakespeare Festival, taking place 20–26 July at the Teatro SS. Trinità in Verona. The company will premiere Perikles f’Nofs Baħar, a multilingual reimagining of Pericles as a contemporary Mediterranean story of migration, survival and the power of storytelling. Performed in English, Maltese, Italian and Arabic, the production combines live traditional music with a multi-roling ensemble to reflect the movement of people, cultures and languages across the Mediterranean. Alongside the performance, the company will engage in discussions, Q&As and networking events with artists, scholars and audiences. The festival coincides with the World Shakespeare Congress and is part of the European Shakespeare Festivals Network, creating opportunities for further international exchange.

WTN is a Maltese collective with a decade of experience creating stripped-back, small-cast Shakespeare in unconventional spaces. This project will showcase its work internationally and support future European collaborations.

Beneficiary: Christian Scicluna

Reference Number: ICE25-26-9114

Project Title: Borderless Culture

Amount awarded: €12,724

Actor Christian Scicluna auditioning and networking in LA In collaboration with Ignite Elite Artists and the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute.

Beneficiary: Sam Vassallo

Reference Number: ICE43-26-9221

Project Title: PONKS International Development — Korea & China 2026/2027

Amount awarded: €12,929

PONKS, a Malta-based contemporary art collective, has been selected to present at the Gwangju Biennale 2026 in South Korea, and will undertake a one-month residency at Organhaus, Chongqing, China, in Spring 2027. The Gwangju project, Rope Temple, is a large-scale immersive installation combining rope structure, sound, film, and poetry, involving over 100 international poets. Immediately before the Gwangju opening, the collective will attend Frieze Seoul to develop gallery relationships in the Asian market. The Organhaus residency will be a dedicated production and research period, deepening PONKS’ engagement with the Chinese contemporary art scene. Together, these two moments mark a significant step in PONKS’ international development, building institutional credibility, market presence, and artistic production across two of Asia’s most dynamic cultural contexts. This application requests support for costs not covered by existing funding.