This scheme supports proposals aimed at boosting artistic development, nurturing experi-mentation and innovation, engaging and developing audiences as well as attracting new au-diences, while creating experiences based on principles of excellence. This scheme also en-courages community-based projects.
The State aid scheme 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 mini-mis Regulation. Kindly refer to Section 9 of these guidelines for additional information.
Furthermore, applicants must qualify as one of the following:

• Creative professionals/individual artists
• Entities registered with the Malta Business Registry (including companies, partner-ships, foundations, and organisations/associations)
• Groups, collectives and consortia
• Registered cooperatives
• Voluntary organisations enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations and that carry out an economic activity within the meaning of Article 107 TFEU.

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

Rank Order Phase 1 List 2

Beneficiary: Toontuloon Transmedia Initiative

Reference number: CIP15-25-7150

Project Title: Toontuloon Transmedia Initiative

Amount awarded: €2,000

Toontuloon Animation Studio will undertake structured research that will inform an industry-standard ten-year innovation and business plan for Maltese-language animated IP.

 

Over the research period, we will conduct preliminary business planning, initial SWOT analyses, skills gap analyses, industry mapping, research on local and international markets (Eurimages, Annecy, etc), audience research, and competitive research, amongst several activities. This work will explore the development of transmedia opportunities for our original animations, including digital and board games and cross-platform storytelling. We will study how to improve the global scalability potential of the Maltese animated IP.

 

We will map the development of an Animation School/Course through collaborations with ACM. Additional areas of study will include immersive technologies (AR, XR, VR), blockchain-based games, and the concept design for “Toon Nights Malta,” a hybrid animation festival featuring screenings, training, and creative industry engagement.

 

Beneficiary: Teatru Salesjan

Reference number: CIP19-25-7164

Project Title: TS Membership: A Community-Powered Platform for Emerging Artists

Amount awarded: €2,000

The beneficiaries will research the development of a membership-based creative platform at Teatru Salesjan that functions as a subscription model for theatre in its broadest sense. The central idea is to explore how a community membership system can generate sustainable “risk capital” that supports emerging artists, particularly young musicians and performers who need access to space, equipment, audiences, and developmental support. This research will analyse audience behaviours, feasibility, digital infrastructure, and the operational conditions required to transform TS into a community-powered incubator. The study will map the value chain, financial model, and social impact of shifting from ticket-driven income to a membership-driven ecosystem that redistributes risk away from artists and towards a supportive community base. The outcome will guide TS in building a scalable platform that strengthens cultural rights, improves labour conditions, and expands access to artistic experimentation.

 

Beneficiary: Creative Health Malta

Reference number: CIP22-25-7170

Project Title: Creative Health Malta Initiative

Amount awarded: €2,000

Creative Health Malta (CHM) was set up in order to fulfill wider goals that could not be achieved as a freelance practitioner: sustainable long-term goals, connection with  international partners and opportunities, to develop and deliver innovative projects bridging arts and health, cultural heritage and nature, and conduct advocacy.

 

There are already many exciting ideas, or dreams, however whereas my creative and artistic skills are vast, my business development and management skills are quite the opposite. The method I gravitate most towards at the moment is innovation canvas, mapping out all the ideas, all the elements at play that include strengths and weaknesses, steps, risks and resources, partnerships needed, financing, promotion, optimising processes, AI, internationalisation etc. I imagine I would also need some sort of timeline for achieving all the goals and to help me focus my energies correctly. And most of all, I would welcome the advice of a business-savvy mentor.

 

Beneficiary: Franciska Stefania Kovessi

Reference number: CIP28-25-7187

Project Title: iCare4 you too – Creative Movement Method for Caregivers

Amount awarded: €2,000

The iCare4 you too project is a dance-based initiative supporting caregivers of individuals living with mental illness. It began during the In Place of War programme and was seed-funded through Arts Council Malta’s CASE Malta scheme, enabling eight pilot sessions with the St Jeanne Antide Foundation. Strong engagement in this early phase led the Foundation to secure additional sponsorship from HSBC to extend the sessions. The project combines guided movement with simple cognitive tasks, including numeracy challenges, sequencing, and pattern-recognition exercises, to enhance mental wellbeing, cognitive focus, and stress relief for participants. Phase 1 focuses on refining and strengthening the method, expanding it to additional organisations, and preparing educator-training pathways to enable broader delivery. By integrating dance with cognitive engagement, it offers caregivers a supportive tool to build resilience, manage stress, and improve overall wellbeing, while creating a scalable programme that can reach more caregivers in diverse community settings.

 

Beneficiary: Aidan Somers

Reference number: CIP34-25-7201

Project Title: AISO Artist Incubator

Amount awarded: €2,000

Aidan Somers, representing AISO Academy, will research a lean, Malta-wide Incubator for Emerging Solo Artists—a hybrid model combining group learning, 1:1 mentorship, and right-sized showcases.

 

Over two months, we’ll validate the Incubator’s problem-solution fit and delivery model through desk research, 25–35 stakeholder interviews (artists, mentors, venues, councils), a short online survey, and a rapid financial model.

 

We’ll benchmark fair fees and contracts per the Charter for the Status of the Artist and test a two-track structure (cohort + 1:1). Outputs: needs analysis, service blueprint, draft curriculum outline, pricing & subsidy scenarios, partner list, risks/mitigations, and a Phase-2 roadmap. This pre-incubation de-risks the pilot, aligns with ACM’s innovation and professionalisation objectives, and readies AISO to scale responsibly.

 

 

Beneficiary: Malta Music & Performing Arts Complex

Reference number: CIP36-25-7203

Project Title: MMPAC – International Exchange & Collaboration Grant

Amount awarded: €2,000

This project will research and develop a new international exchange model that empowers Maltese creatives to co-create innovative cultural projects with global partners. The initiative will prototype a framework where each Maltese participant collaborates with at least one international organisation, artist, or creative hub, enabling shared research, hybrid artistic development, and cross-border testing of new ideas. By exploring digital tools, co-creation methodologies, and collaborative production workflows, the project aims to generate a replicable system that strengthens Malta’s international cultural links while fostering experimentation and innovation in the local ecosystem. The outcome will be a validated exchange blueprint, pilot collaborations with selected partners, and a practical toolkit that creatives and organisations in Malta can use to launch sustainable international projects. This research will support sector growth, mobility, and innovation aligned with the goals of the Creative Innovators Fund.

 

 

Rank Order Phase 1 list 1

Beneficiary: Ramona Depares

Reference number: CIP02-25-7088

Project Title: Palk.mt

Amount awarded: €2,000

A comprehensive digital hub for the theatre community, connecting emerging and experienced artists and practitioners, while providing a digital bank of educational material.

 

The platform will be scaled to include three pillars, each complementing the other:

 

PILLAR 1 – Education

 

Accessible learning through expert-led content, including:

• in-depth guides
• instructional videos
• infographics & checklists

 

Eg – A guide to navigating sensitive topics in theatre

 

PILLAR 2 – Collaboration/Mentoring

 

The creation of a searchable databse of theatre professionals, with the eventual integration of an AI-chatbot, using GPT AI Power or AI Engine, to create a basic mentor-matchmaking function. The aim is to develop this as an educational project in collaboration with MCAST.

 

PILLAR 3 – Documentation

• Documenting Malta’s theatre scene through journalism that captures a shared cultural memory and strengthens the sense of community within the sector. Including:
• Deep dives into key topics
• Knowledge sharing interviews
• Historical documentation

 

 

Beneficiary: Andre Mangion

Reference number: CIP04-25-7109

Project Title: Iktibhieli.com

Amount awarded: €2,000

Many people have compelling stories to tell but lack the professional writing skills to share them effectively. This business concept bridges that gap by connecting individuals with untold narratives to experienced writers who bring those stories to life. We intend to offer a collaborative service where clients engage with professional writers to develop, refine, and publish their narratives across multiple formats; books, memoirs, essays, and digital media.

 

Rather than the traditional publishing model where writers create first and seek readers, we invert this dynamic: we identify people with stories, facilitate meaningful creative partnerships, and deliver finished, publication-ready products. This model empowers individuals to establish their own lasting legacy while creating a diverse revenue stream for writers, editors, designers, and publishers. By bridging supply and demand, we establish a sustainable platform that serves both storytellers seeking permanence and creative professionals seeking stable work.

 

 

Beneficiary: Culture Venture

Reference number: CIP08-25-7141

Project Title: The Creative Incubator

Amount awarded: €2,000

Culture Venture aims to research and prototype the Accelerating Creative Businesses programme; a modular framework that merges cultural entrepreneurship, incubation, and acceleration tailored to Malta’s creative ecosystem.

 

The research phase will map local cultural entrepreneurial needs, benchmark international best practices, and test the viability of a hybrid learning model that blends in-person workshops with online international mentoring.

 

This groundwork will inform the future development of an integrated programme supporting early-stage creative entrepreneurs through ideation, business validation, and internationalisation. The project will identify innovation pathways that empower creative professionals to turn cultural ideas into viable businesses, fostering sustainability, employment, and export potential within Malta’s creative economy.

 

 

Beneficiary: Zoe Camilleri

Reference number: CIP14-25-7149

Project Title: Zowij.Makes

Amount awarded: €2,000

I aim to research and develop a sustainable sourcing model for my small fashion brand Zowij.Makes, which handmakes garments from pre-loved and reclaimed fabrics. Currently, all materials are sourced locally through thrifted textiles, a method that is increasingly limiting in both quantity and consistency. To grow sustainably, I need to identify reliable suppliers of second-hand, reclaimed, or deadstock fabric that align with my brand’s environmental values. This project will investigate regional and international supply chains, assess their environmental and ethical standards, and explore partnerships with textile recycling centres, mills, and deadstock distributors. The goal is to establish a dependable, scalable, and fully traceable sourcing strategy that supports circular fashion while allowing my business to expand its offerings responsibly.

 

Beneficiary: Lisa Gwen Chetcuti

Reference number: CIP17-25-7154

Project Title: CHE studio & gallery CHE | an incubation and exhibition space for sculptors and artists working in three dimensions

Amount awarded: €2,000

This exercise will use the Creative Project Canvas, together with market and sector analysis, to explore how the scope and activities of Funderija Artistika Chetcuti may be expanded. The foundry is a unique space within an industrial estate, currently home to a single sculptor and bronzesmith who works on commissions for third-party artists. However, the wider space remains significantly underutilised.

 

Through this research exercise, we will examine how areas within the foundry may be transformed (possibly but not limited to) studio space for artists working in three dimensions. The exercise will also assess demand, user needs, and potential uptake through targeted consultations, surveys, and comparative analysis of local studio availability.

 

The long-term vision, informed by this exploratory phase, is to develop an artist-in-residence structure with the potential for international engagement.