Application Deadline: 10th June 2025
Rank Order
Beneficiary: Ryan Falzon
Reference number: ICE27-25-6036
Project Title: ARCANA – Solo exhibition in Milan
Amount awarded: €11,463
ARCANA is an upcoming visual art exhibition by multidisciplinary Maltese artist Ryan Falzon, scheduled to open on 24th October 2025 at Young Art Hunters in Via Bramante, Milan. The project is curated by Barbara Basile and aims to present a compelling body of work that interrogates narratives and symbols through Falzon’s distinct visual language. ARCANA is positioned as a step in Falzon’s international presence and offers strong potential for cross-cultural dialogue and critical engagement within the European art scene. A catalogue with an ISBN number will be published, with contributions by Francois Zammit and Omar N’Shea. The project offers the possibility of reaching international audiences, gallery representation, and participation in art fairs. This artistic team reflects the academic, artistic, and cultural productions of contemporary Malta. Together they showcase the potential of and actualisation of Malta’s offering in the international arts’ scene.
Beneficiary: Solari Productions LimitedReference number: ICE46-25-6096
Project Title: ŻEJTUNE International Promotion
Amount awarded: €15,000
Support for the international release of the upcoming feature film ŻEJTUNE.
Beneficiary: Miriam Galea
Reference number: ICE04-25-5821
Project Title: Rock Retreat residency 2025
Amount awarded: €2,491
The Rock Retreat is a nonprofit residency for writers and illustrators who want to create the next generation of books for children and young adults. In May 2024, the beneficiary self-funded her attendance at the Rock Retreat in Gibraltar, where a compact and culturally rich community hinges between the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Europe, and Morocco. The residency again offered a week of inspiration to the next generation of children’s book creators. Led by renowned professionals from the children’s publishing industry, its aim is to equip participants with courage, motivation, method, and of course, information and the necessary networks that too often feel out of reach. The residency helps facilitate access to the world of children’s publishing, both for authors and illustrators. Since last year the beneficiary participated as an illustrator, this year the applicant would like to participate in the creative writing section, also offered at the residency. This year the residency takes place in Iona, Scotland, between 25 October and 1 November 2025. The beneficiary’s application to the residency has been accepted, following an open call.
Beneficiary: Ruben Zahra
Reference number: ICE19-25-5985
Project Title: SALT-ICE origami children’s opera tour
Amount awarded: €9,900
The children’s opera SALT-ICE by Ruben Zahra adopts paper-art as the primary medium for the costumes and set design through the application of origami techniques. The story follows the adventure of Katharina and her brother Martin as they travel through the mountains, across salt mines and ice caves. This fairy-tale landscape is represented through pop-up paper sculptures that are revealed on stage by the narrator and projected as the scenography of the performance. The contemporary aesthetic of the mise-en-scène is also reflected in the choreography as well as the music, scored for a children’s choir, piano and an electronic soundtrack. In 2025/26, SALT-ICE will be travelling to the Czech Republic, Portugal, Belgium and Estonia. In each country, composer Ruben Zahra, choreographer Pamela Kerr and pianist Tricia Dawn Williams will engage a children’s choir and dance students as well as other professional artists for the production of SALT-ICE.
Beneficiary: Alexandra Alden
Reference number: ICE18-25-5979
Project Title: ‘When is it too late’ – Alexandra Alden International Tour
Amount awarded: €15,000
When Is It Too Late? is the third album by Maltese singer-songwriter Alexandra Alden, inspired by Sylvia Plath’s fig tree metaphor – a symbol of life’s branching choices and the courage to move forward. Rooted in Mediterranean mysticism and emotional storytelling, the album launches with a two-phase headlining European tour: the Netherlands in January 2026, followed by The Netherlands, Belgium and France in May. In a music industry shaped by ageism and sexism, Alden is carving out an inclusive space across cultures and beliefs through rituals of connection: wildflower keepsakes, handwritten postcards, and story-driven concerts. Backed by an international team (Stephen Archibald, Jack Parker, Gideon van der Stelt and more), the tour models a sustainable, artist-led path to creative expression. This project elevates Maltese artistry on the European stage with imagination and vision, while each show is designed to meet full venue capacity and spark long-term audience growth.
Beneficiary: Toontuloon Ltd
Reference number: ICE29-25-6048
Project Title: Internationalisation of the Toontuloon Animation Slate
Amount awarded: €10,036
Toontuloon Animation Studio, Malta’s leading 2D animation studio, is proposing to attend the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Cartoon Forum in Toulouse – two of the most influential events in the European animation industry. This project aims to strengthen Toontuloon’s international visibility, build new co-production opportunities, and promote Maltese animation on a global stage. At Annecy and Cartoon Forum, Toontuloon will network with industry leaders, explore emerging trends, and represent Malta’s creative sector, as well as presenting two original series: “Ħbieb Tassew ma’ Fonzu l-Fenek” and “Karamellu tar-Raħal t’Isfel”. Both series are developed in Maltese for local children but are designed with universal themes suitable for international adaptation. This initiative will enable Toontuloon to engage broadcasters and distributors across Europe, contributing to the export of Maltese culture through animation.
Beneficiary: Aaron Bezzina
Reference number: ICE36-25-6073
Project Title: Residencies Program Of The Institut Français At The Cité Internationale Des Arts
Amount awarded: €15,000
Rodin’s Gates of Hell has long stood as a significant sculptural milestone for Aaron Bezzina, capturing the torment of Dante’s Inferno with a timeless relevance. Its depiction of evil and eternal suffering echoes powerfully today, as images of war and destruction pervade our collective consciousness. The door, monumental and immobile, represents a passage to nowhere—a powerful symbol of futility and despair. Bezzina’s sculptural practice focuses on anti-interactive works that subvert functionality, transforming the productive into the self-destructive and banal. He has long explored the de-functioning of objects, particularly weapons, and finds Rodin’s piece to be an early and profound precursor to these ideas. It embodies the epitome of un-productivity, echoing Dante’s infamous phrase: “Abandon every hope, who enter here.” With this proposal, the artist intends to research the intersection of anti-interactive sculpture and contemporary conflict, using Gates of Hell as a conceptual foundation for developing his next body of work.
Beneficiary: Alexine Sammut
Reference number: ICE45-25-6095
Project Title: Tikka Tikka Travels: Connecting the Maltese Diaspora
Amount awarded: €13,042
Tikka Tikka Travels supports the international launch of Tikka Tikka Creative, a self-published Maltese-English bilingual children’s publishing brand, at Book Fair Australia 2026 in Melbourne. Building on the success of Tikka Tikka ABĊ, showcased at the Malta Book Festival 2024 and the London Book Fair 2025, the project aims to connect Maltese culture with the diaspora and international families through a dedicated fair stand, interactive events, and the introduction of new bilingual educational tools. Supported by the Maltese Community Council of Victoria (MCCV), the initiative promotes Maltese language learning and storytelling, strengthening intergenerational cultural ties. Led by the brand’s founder in collaboration with a Melbourne-based marketing and publishing expert of Maltese heritage, the project combines literature, design, and community engagement to foster joyful, creative learning experiences and ensure Malta’s linguistic and visual culture continues to thrive across borders.
Beneficiary: Gabriella Sultana
Reference number: ICE25-25-6013
Project Title: Reich at 90
Amount awarded: €5,718
Reich at 90 is a three-concert tour in Sydney and Canberra, Australia, celebrating the 90th birthday of composer Steve Reich, featuring internationally acclaimed Maltese pianist Gabi Sultana. The tour begins with an intimate concert at the historic Freehill Tower in Sydney, as part of Opus Now Concert Series with cellist Christopher Pidcock; followed by two large-scale performances with Ensemble Offspring—Australia’s foremost new music group—at ACO on the Pier (Sydney) and The Street Theatre (Canberra). This project deepens artistic relationships, expands international networks, and reinforces Malta’s presence in the global contemporary music scene through vibrant, cross-cultural exchange.
Beneficiary: Julienne Restall
Reference number: ICE48-25-6100
Project Title: National Youth Theatre: Epic Stages
Amount awarded: €4,540
The beneficiary has been offered an unconditional place on the Epic Stages programme by the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, a prestigious 2.5-week course in devised and collaborative theatre performance. Taking place in Sidcup, UK, the course includes training in voice, movement, improvisation, and ensemble devising. It culminates in a final showing for an invited industry and public audience. With alumni including Ian McKellen, Cynthia Erivo, and Self Esteem, NYT is a globally recognised nurturer of young artistic talent. As a Maltese artist, the beneficiary’s participation brings national representation to this international space and complements a history of bringing knowledge home to Malta, including through work with local youth and by bringing international collaborators to the isles. The course will develop the applicant’s craft and expand the beneficiary’s network, enabling future collaborations. The applicant is requesting funding for the course, travel, and accommodation expenses.
Beneficiary: Viper Soup Complex
Reference number: ICE16-25-5967
Project Title: Viper Soup Complex on tour 2026
Amount awarded: €10,789
Viper Soup Complex, a progressive experimental fusion band from Malta, is preparing for a UK tour in 2026 to promote their new upcoming EP and connect with a growing UK fan base. Known for combining music, theatre, and visuals into immersive live performances, the band has received positive attention through recent European tours and media exposure. The tour will include both major festivals and smaller gigs arranged through trusted booking agents and long-term collaborators. With increasing interest from UK audiences, the band aims to reach new listeners, strengthen industry relationships, and build momentum in a key international market. Funding will support travel, promotion, and production costs, allowing the band to expand their reach and explore additional performance opportunities across Europe if they arise.
Beneficiary: Patrick Joseph Camilleri
Reference number: ICE41-25-6086
Project Title: Vinyl Paradise Promotional Tour
Amount awarded: €12,800
Vinyl Paradise, a Maltese blues-rock-pop trio, is launching an international promotional tour to support their debut album, released in November 2024. The tour includes performances in Canada during Malta’s Independence Week, return shows in the UK at venues such as The Troubadour in London, and a confirmed slot at the prestigious Open-Air Blues Festival Brezoi in Romania in July 2026. The project aims to promote Maltese music abroad, foster cultural exchange, and build international visibility for the band. Drummer Patrick’s role as Malta’s representative in the European Blues Union will support networking with global artists and organizations. This initiative also lays the groundwork for future projects, including the potential for an international blues festival in Malta. Through performance, media outreach, and industry engagement, the project strengthens Malta’s cultural footprint and supports the global growth of its contemporary music scene.
Beneficiary: Christine Zerafa
Reference number: ICE43-25-6090
Project Title: A European Concert Tour for Saxophone and Piano Duo
Amount awarded: €14,979
This project features a collaboration between saxophonist Philip Attard and pianist Christine Zerafa, through a cultural exchange consisting of two concerts in internationally prestigious venues: the Salon Florence Gould at Opera Garnier Hall in Paris and the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw. Both concerts are taking place under the patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Malta in the respective countries, and the audience will include foreign dignitaries as well as Maltese nationals and high officials living in France and Poland. Committed to showcase Maltese music, the duo will introduce new audiences to Maltese classical music, featuring works by Charles Camilleri (Three Folk Songs) and Joseph Vella (Sonata op. 19 for saxophone and piano), alongside core works from the saxophone/piano repertoire. The project promotes Maltese cultural heritage, expands the duo’s international reach into Poland and France, and fosters future international exchange opportunities with both venues and local arts communities.
Beneficiary: ClubMurder
Reference number: ICE49-25-6103
Project Title: Beyond Borders – Balkan Fall Tour 2025 & Festival Launchpad 2026
Amount awarded: €9,242
“Beyond Borders” is a two-phase international project designed to elevate Malta’s presence in the global metal scene. The initiative begins with a Balkan Fall Tour in October 2025, featuring seven performances across Romania and Bulgaria, and culminates in a confirmed slot at a major European metal festival in 2026. More than a performance tour, this is a cultural export initiative that positions Maltese music as a bold, creative force beyond its borders. The project fuses powerful live shows with modern, sustainable touring methods to increase effectiveness and impact. It also tackles the financial and logistical barriers Maltese acts often face when touring abroad, offering a model of how strategic planning and funding can unlock new international opportunities. By blending artistic intensity with cultural diplomacy, “Beyond Borders” aspires to reshape perceptions of Malta to a hub of subcultural expression. With support from Arts Council Malta, the project becomes a national statement that shows how even the heaviest music can carry the weight of identity, connection, and pride. It lays the groundwork for future Maltese artists to reach global audiences with professionalism, authenticity, and vision.
