The Arts Support Scheme forms part of Arts Council Malta’s support portfolio, that invests in diverse artistic and cultural expression and in the development of Malta’s cultural and creative sectors. The Scheme enables individuals, groups, and organisations to plan, develop, be represented in, and deliver artistic projects in line with ACM’s Strategy 2030, primarily addressing communities and creative practitioners.

The Scheme pursues Strategy 2030 by actively seeking to:

• Nurture creative potential and support its development, encouraging co-creation, collaboration and experimentation;

• Invest in artistic excellence by encouraging creative risk-taking and innovation, and active engagement of communities;

• Document and explore Malta’s past and present artistic and cultural communities, preserving and promoting its cultural legacy;

• Champion diversity, inclusivity and community development by enabling collaborative arts projects advancing knowledge and sharing best practices;

• Ensure equitable access to artistic and cultural experiences, particularly for disadvantaged groups, enabling meaningful participation;

• Facilitate platforms for emerging talent, while encouraging intergenerational and intercultural exchange.

Applications submitted may:

• Form part of a wider project/body of work;
• Be self-contained projects;
• Consist of a series of projects within a programme of activities.

This scheme comprises of two main areas of focus each subdivided into types of activities. Applicants may choose to focus on one or more of these areas or types of activities within their projects:

1. Artistic practice, namely:

o Artistic projects – including the production and programming of quality-driven creative work – which push the boundaries of engaging creative experience for the artists, cultural and creative practitioners, the relevant sectors and the communities;

o Production and documentation initiatives focused on Malta’s artistic communities, aimed at capturing and preserving the country’s cultural and artistic legacy in an open, accessible and sustainable manner.

2. Community and audience engagement, namely:

o Artistic production and/or programming which enable and promote cultural participation, creative expression, and/or awareness and appreciation relating to the collective memory, as well as the community’s cultural and artistic legacy;
o Exploration of participatory and innovative approaches to audience engagement set to deepen engagement with existing and new audiences through artistic practice and/or research;
o Development of ways to improve access to the arts, promoting inclusive participation and greater diversity within the arts.

This scheme provides support to artists, cultural and creative practitioners and communities, throughout the development and implementation phases, and covers the time and resources needed for creative professionals and their collaborators to develop their projects.

Requirements in line with Arts Council Malta’s Strategy 2030:

In line with its commitment to supporting the arts through its sustainable and accountable approach to public investment, ACM draws applicants’ attention to the following:

Applicants are encouraged to give due consideration, as appropriate, to the principles explained in the Right to Culture – Resource Pack when developing their proposal in relation to how they engage with communities and the considerations of everyone’s cultural rights in their work. This resource pack is aimed at increasing awareness regarding inclusivity and supporting the implementation of cultural rights in our day-to-day practice.  

Applicants are also expected to give due consideration, as appropriate, to the main principles outlined in the Charter for the Status of the Artist when proposing their operational and programming activities to ensure fair and just working conditions for artists. These include the right to artistic freedom, improved accessibility, formal/informal/non-formal skill recognition, decent socio-economic conditions, non-discrimination and equity, ethical considerations and adherence to intellectual property rights and international labour law. The Charter for the Status of the Artist is meant to provide a dynamic frame of reference for any legislation, policy, or initiative which directly or indirectly impacts artists and cultural and creative sectors, ensuring that any action is aligned with the ultimate long-term vision of elevating the status of artists in Malta in line with their tangible value to society.