Rank Order List 3

Beneficiary: Fabrizio Fenech

Reference number: MCG42-26-9859

Project Title: Support in research and concept writing development

Amount awarded: €3,000

The support from this grant will go towards engaging a writer to adapt a Maltese core memory and tradition into a comprehensive pitch-ready treatment. The finished treatment along with project materials such as character descriptions, loglines, synopsis and research will be packaged together and used as a proposal pitch for further funding applications. This original outline examines a uniquely Maltese cultural custom and dynamic through a universally relatable holiday lens. Centred on the chaotic days of Christmas leading to a multi-generational Christmas day event, the narrative highlights the vibrant complexities of extended Maltese family life and tradition.

 

Beneficiary: Mikaela Bajada

Reference number: MCG66-26-9989

Project Title: Songwriting Camp

Amount awarded: €2,999

I am applying for the support from the Arts Council Malta for the Songwriting Camp which will be held in South East London and I would be involved as an artist. This four day camp will be held in a recording studio with topline songwriters and music producers as part of the team. During the first three days, the creative process will involve a collection of different original ideas, styles, and sounds for the new three songs. Each day we will try to bring a song to life. On the fourth and last day, these three demos will be recorded in the studio with the help of some music producers. This experience will definitely constitute a significant step in my artistic development by releasing some original songs and may form the first completed component of a debut album.

 

Beneficiary: Stefan Galea

Reference number: MCG72-26-10033

Project Title: Stefan Galea – Debut EP Project

Amount awarded: €3,000

This project will support the creation and release of my debut EP, bringing together several years of independent work into one focused artistic project. Until now, I have largely self-funded my music and developed my catalogue one release at a time. This EP will allow me to work more deeply on songwriting, production and artistic direction, and to create a body of work that feels connected rather than a collection of separate singles. The project will also give me the space to develop a contemporary pop sound with influences connected to Malta and my own musical identity. Following several Malta Eurovision Song Contest appearances, international songwriting collaborations and my recent publishing agreement with Guesstimate and 830 Music Group, I see this EP as an important next step in building a stronger repertoire, developing my sound further and creating work that can support future releases, live performances and international opportunities.

 

Beneficiary: Rebecca Mohnani

Reference number: MCG81-26-10082

Project Title: Development of Rebecca Mohnani’s Debut EP: Production of Three Original Tracks

Amount awarded: €3,000

This project will support the development of Maltese singer-songwriter Rebecca Mohnani’s debut EP through the professional production of three original tracks. Building on her independently released debut single, Claude, the wider EP explores the relationship between human emotion and nature, using imagery and processes found in nature as a language through which to tell personal stories. Rooted in intimate piano and acoustic instrumentation alongside atmospheric and cinematic elements, the project will further develop Rebecca’s emerging artistic and sonic identity. Through professional production and recording, session musicians, mixing and mastering, three songs currently in development will be transformed into professionally produced recordings forming part of her debut body of work.

 

Beneficiary: Aaron Debattista

Reference number: MCG93-26-10144

Project Title: Electronic Press Kit (EPK)

Amount awarded: €3,000

Intended to support my development as an artist, the EPK is a carefully and professionally curated collection of digital assets including art, photography, video content and promotional material. The final EPK can be shared across social media and other online platforms. Additionally, I would be able to rely on it to secure paid work and venue bookings in the future.

 

Beneficiary: Bryan Muscat

Reference number: MCG91-26-10139

Project Title: Scriptwriting Course

Amount awarded: €2,622

The project focuses on the development and audiovisual production of Scriptwriting: From Idea to Performance, a comprehensive 36-session online course exploring the creative and practical processes of writing for stage and screen. Drawing on Bryan Muscat’s professional experience as a scriptwriter, theatre practitioner and educator, the project will transform years of practical knowledge into a structured and accessible learning resource. The course will be produced in both Maltese and English, widening access to scriptwriting training while contributing to the availability of Maltese-language resources within the cultural and creative sector. The Micro Grant will support the acquisition of essential audiovisual equipment required to professionally record and produce the course, together with supporting educational material. The project will also strengthen the applicant’s capacity to create high-quality digital educational content within his professional creative practice.

 

Beneficiary: Gabriel Gauci

Reference number: MCG97-26-10166

Project Title: Album Recording – Artwork Design and Vinyl Printing & Production

Amount awarded: €3,000

This project forms part of Skald’s new studio album, featuring original songs in the Maltese language and reflecting the evolving sound and artistic identity of the group. The project aims to support the professional design and production of the album artwork, an essential component of the album’s visual identity and promotion across digital platforms. The artwork will complement the music, enhancing its presentation and creating a cohesive visual representation of the band’s creative direction. In addition, the project will fund the production of 100 vinyl copies of the album. These physical editions will be distributed among key collaborators of the band and other relevant recipients, helping to strengthen the album’s reach and preserve the work in a tangible format. The combination of professional artwork and physical vinyl production will contribute to the overall presentation, promotion and dissemination of Skald’s original musical work in Maltese.

 

Beneficiary: Nicole Parnis

Reference number: MCG79-26-10070

Project Title: Music Video Production

Amount awarded: €2,027

The project consists of a narrative music video for I Miss You, an original hard techno track by Maltese DJ and music producer IDEALIST. Combining electronic music with cinematography and visual storytelling, the project explores themes of emotional attachment, external validation and personal freedom. The project seeks to highlight the importance of self-expression and personal freedom in a culture increasingly shaped by digital connection and the need for validation from others.

 

Beneficiary: Thea Aquilina

Reference number: MCG94-26-10150

Project Title: Songwriting & Production Project

Amount awarded: €3,000

This project involves travelling from Malta to London for a two-day intensive songwriting and production experience with a professional music producer and songwriter. The project will consist of two dedicated songwriting sessions, during which 2 original songs will be written and developed collaboratively. The purpose of travelling from Malta to London is to facilitate direct collaboration within an international music environment, providing the opportunity to explore new songwriting techniques, creative approaches and production styles. The project aims to encourage artistic development through international collaboration while creating original music that can reach audiences beyond Malta. Following the London sessions, the songs will undergo professional production, recording and finalisation before being released on digital music platforms. Overall, the project aims to create new original music while facilitating international creative exchange, professional development and greater opportunities for Maltese music to reach international audiences.

 

Beneficiary: Ivan Lucas

Reference number: MCG99-26-10218

Project Title: U Bqasjt Għaddej

Amount awarded: €2,992

An album containing original songs penned by Composer Mark Spiteri Lucas with Paul Ellul, Prof. David Aloisio, Joe Chircop and Joe Julian Farrugia as authors. The songs in question are songs which I took part as a singer in various festivals. Also included are 2 songs which are a tribute to the late Joe Cutajar a prolific singer in addition to another song as a tribute to my uncle the late Godwin Lucas. All of these are in our native language which I am so proud to use in my original songs.

Rank Order list 2

 

Beneficiary: Martin Caruana

Reference number: MCG02-26-9761

Project Title: Ocelot Debut EP

Amount awarded: €3,000

Ocelot is an instrumental contemporary jazz/fusion trio featuring drummer Martin Caruana, bassist Luigi Busuttil, and guitarist Jason Spiteri. The band is embarking on its debut studio project, a 5-track EP of original material. This work is an exploration of contemporary jazz and fusion, blending diverse musical influences into a distinct, experimental sound. To elevate the creative vision, Ocelot will collaborate with selected guest session musicians and vocalists, incorporating layered instrumentation to further enhance the project’s sound.

 

Beneficiary: Kyra Lautier

Reference number: MCG19-26-9781

Project Title: Billy’s Game: A Saw Parody!

Amount awarded: €2,550

Billy’s Game: A Saw Parody! is a 50-minute-long theatrical adaptation of the horror film Saw (2004). What started as a form of escapism through horror films and a necessity for artistic expression to process inexcusable global atrocities became an innovative concept that elevates Malta’s admiration for parody and satire. Billy’s Game maintains an eco-friendly development process by constructing the props and set pieces entirely from recycled cardboard. Additionally, all costume pieces are personally and ethically sourced by members of the production. Written and directed by Kyra Lautier, Billy’s Game aims to encourage its audience to embrace whatever terrors they face with the ability to laugh directly at it.

Beneficiary: Ella Pullicino

Reference number: MCG82-26-10087

Project Title: Peach Talk Album Launch

Amount awarded: €3,000

Peach Talk is an independently developed neo-soul band releasing its debut album. The live launch, being held at Teatru Salesjan, will bring the album to life through its first-ever live performance. From writing and recording to mixing, the album has been created entirely by the members of Peach Talk — Ella Pullicino, Zack Camilleri, and Simon Andersen. The launch will take place in an intimate setting, with the audience close to the musicians and the focus placed on the groove, soul, and musicality of the band — souls coming together to experience soul music. Alongside a full live band, an acoustic opening support act will introduce the evening before Peach Talk performs the album live for the first time

Beneficiary: Maria Griscti Soler

Reference number: MCG69-26-10024

Project Title: Exploring Digital Engraving and Handcrafted Silver Jewellery

Amount awarded: €3,000

Exploring Digital Engraving and Handcrafted Silver Jewellery is an artistic exploration of how digital laser engraving can be integrated with traditional jewellery-making techniques to create highly personalised and unique silver pieces. The project will experiment with combining laser engraving with both traditional silversmithing and silver clay, exploring how different materials, textures, forms and handmade surfaces respond to digital engraving.

A key focus will be the creation of personalised jewellery incorporating meaningful elements such as handwriting, drawings, symbols, words and other visual expressions of individual identity and personal stories. Through my own experimentation and a participatory workshop with the public, I will investigate how digital precision can complement the individuality and imperfections of handcrafted jewellery.

The project will culminate in a collection of original silver jewellery pieces demonstrating the techniques, processes and creative possibilities explored, while developing my artistic practice through the integration of contemporary digital technology with traditional jewellery craftsmanship.

 

Beneficiary: Andrew Vella Zarb

Reference number: MCG68-26-10022

Project Title: Development of soul repertoire

Amount awarded: €3,000

The development of a set of soul arrangements for an 11-piece band over three rehearsal sessions and one live show. Taking these arrangements from the page to the rehearsal room will be invaluable experience for my practice as an arranger and musical director, and taking a large band on stage to present the music in a live context will be a new challenge as a bandleader.

 

Beneficiary: Daniel Micallef

Reference number: MCG65-26-9970

Project Title: One Take: Recording and Filming original Acoustic Guitar Instrumental

Amount awarded: €2,505

Daniel Micallef is a professional session guitarist based in Malta, active in the local music industry since 2019. Over the past seven years, he has collaborated with respected Maltese artists across genres, performing on notable stages and opening for major international acts at large festivals.

Throughout his career, Daniel’s energy has gone into realising other people’s creative visions. This project marks the first time he will record and produce a song of his own. An original acoustic instrumental written in 2018, currently only a rough demo. With grant support, he will finally have the resources to bring it to life properly: recorded, produced, and released alongside a music video.

Without this support, the project will likely be delayed for years, as it already has been. This grant offers a rare chance for Daniel to invest in his own artistry, while contributing something original to Malta’s music scene.

Beneficiary: Michael Borg

Reference number: MCG60-26-9952

Project Title: Road to World Cup – Documenting Malta Rugby’s Journey

Amount awarded: €3,000

Malta Rugby has an ambitious goal: to rise through the international rankings and pursue qualification for the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States. This project will document the journey towards that goal, following the people, decisions, challenges and milestones that are shaping the future of Maltese rugby. Through photography and storytelling, I aim to capture more than just what happens on the pitch. The project will explore the growth of rugby across Malta, from grassroots development and local clubs to the national team, while documenting the work taking place behind the scenes to strengthen the sport. At its heart, this is a story about ambition, identity and progress. By following Malta Rugby over the coming years, the project will create a visual record of a small rugby nation attempting something significant: building the foundations, culture and belief needed to compete on a much bigger international stage.

 

Beneficiary: Abigail Agius

Reference number: MCG50-26-9901

Project Title: Abigail Agius – Micro Grant

Amount awarded: €2,737

This Micro Grant will provide essential support for Abigail in the continuing development of her multidisciplinary and intermedia practice, supporting her in accessing the appropriate tools to further strengthen her work across visual arts and performance. These tools will support the foundations for the research and development phase of a new project. A compact Fujifilm X-T30 III together with the appropriate accessories will support in the documentation and field-working processes which underpin her work, allowing her to capture high-quality photo and video to be woven into upcoming research, as well as for archival purposes. With an iPad mini and Apple Pencil, she will be able to digitise her illustrations and manipulate her photo and video documentation. Finally, acquiring a Shure SM58 Microphone will support her sustained research around sonic practices and voice, an key piece of equipment which will be integral to the development of a final work.

Beneficiary: Mark Micallef Costa

Reference number: MCG44-26-9874

Project Title: Lejl u Nhar

Amount awarded: €3,000

Lejl u Nhar is the first full-length album by Maltese band SterjoTipi, currently being written and recorded. The album explores themes of love, loss, uncertainty, hope and change, drawing from experiences and emotions that shape everyday life. Through original songwriting and an evolving approach to arrangement and sound, SterjoTipi are developing a body of work that reflects the band’s artistic growth and musical identity. The four new songs included in this project will complete Lejl u Nhar, bringing together the material created by the band so far into their first full-length release. Funding will support the recording, production and completion of the album, allowing SterjoTipi to develop the project to its full artistic potential and share their work with audiences in Malta and beyond.

 

Beneficiary: Geordie Attard

Reference number: MCG41-26-9855

Project Title: Human Red: Production and Release of “Motion” and “Within” EPs

Amount awarded: €2,800

Human Red is the artist name of Geordie Attard, a Malta-based music producer, Ableton tutor and studio engineer. This project will introduce Human Red through two debut EPs, each made up of two original tracks. All four tracks are currently in their final stages of production, with further work being carried out on instrumentation, sound design, composition, mixing and preparation before mastering and release. The project will also include four music videos, one for each track. The visual direction will use everyday objects, spaces and familiar materials in unusual ways that connect with the mood and character of the music. The project brings together four Malta-based creatives working across music production, live instrumentation and videography, helping Human Red establish a clear artistic identity through a body of work combining electronic production, acoustic elements and experimental visuals.

 

Beneficiary: Aleandro Spiteri Monsigneur

Reference number: MCG38-26-9804

Project Title: Y.A.W.N .

Amount awarded: €3,000

The project aims to develop and promote Y.A.W.N. through the creation of high-quality audiovisual and digital content supporting the release of two original songs. This will include the production of one professionally directed music video for one of the songs, alongside the creation of a range of short-form social media content for both releases. This content will be designed specifically for platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, allowing the music to reach new audiences while establishing a stronger and more recognisable visual identity for Y.A.W.N. There will also be targeted marketing and promotional campaign surrounding the releases, using the newly created audiovisual material to increase visibility, engagement and audience growth. By combining music, visual storytelling and digital marketing, the project seeks to strengthen Y.A.W.N.’s presence within Malta’s contemporary music scene while creating opportunities to reach audiences beyond Malta and establish the project as a distinctive, professionally presented musical act.

Beneficiary: Marius Van Rooij

Reference number: MCG36-26-9802

Project Title: Terramaxka

Amount awarded: €2,783

This project aims to preserve and promote one of Malta’s rarest traditional musical traditions: the Terramaxka, a historic street organ once commonly used during village festas, weddings, carnivals and public celebrations. I have dedicated many years to restoring, maintaining and performing with the instrument, and I currently operate what is regarding as the last working Terramaxka of its kind in Malta. Through regular performances, particularly in Valletta, the project introduces both Maltese families and international visitors to this unique aspect of Malta’s cultural heritage. The project also provides an opportunity to explain the history, craftmanship and music associated with the instrument. Financial support is sought to assist with essential annual costs including maintenance, tuning, music books, storage, insurance, transportation and promotion. The investment will help ensure that this unique tradition remains alive, accessible and appreciated by future generations.

 

Beneficiary: Kimberly Pepe

Reference number: MCG33-26-9795

Project Title: Kym Pepe EP

Amount awarded: €3,000

The project consists of the arrangement, production, recording and mixing of four songs composed by Kym Pepe, which will be part of a concept EP. The songs will be written in the Maltese language and will delve into her own experiences of love & attachment. Kym’s melodies lean melancholic yet hopeful, accompanied by hypnotic and dreamy synth sounds. Upon completion, the songs in the EP will then be mastered and released worldwide.

 

Beneficiary: Gabrijel Mansueto

Reference number: MCG29-26-9791

Project Title: Taħt Sema Blu

Amount awarded: €3,000

This project will produce a music video for Emoji, a new track by Maltese band SterjoTipi from their album Lejl u Nhar. The video looks at how digital communication has become part of our everyday lives and how it affects the way we connect with one another. With a strong focus on younger audiences, the video will explore familiar experiences such as fear of missing out (FOMO), the pressure to keep up with constant communication, and the growing expectation to always be available and respond instantly. While technology helps us stay connected, the constant flow of messages and notifications can also bring pressure, stress and a sense of isolation. Using a fresh and relatable visual approach, the video aims to capture this tension and encourage audiences of all ages to reflect on our relationship with technology and what it means to truly connect.

Beneficiary: Rebecca Theuma

Reference number: MCG23-26-9786

Project Title: Do you feel it? I think I feel it – EP

Amount awarded: €3,000

The funds will be used to produce mix and master 6 original compositions in a professional recording studio in Malta. Once the EP is finished, it will be sent to various record labels, in the hopes that it will be distributed by the label, which can increase the artist’s visibility and following both locally and abroad, through features on press and magazines, and increased radio-play and play-listing on streaming services, thus making it a natural and logical next step in the artist’s musical career. The EP will pay homage to the diy underground party culture in Malta, which has seen a resurgence in recent years, especially after the covid pandemic.

Beneficiary: Mark Ciantar

Reference number: MCG88-26-10121

Project Title: The Formative Years

Amount awarded: €2,970

The Formative Years is the debut songwriting EP of Maltese singer-songwriter Mark Ciantar. It will tenderly explore themes surrounding everyday life, queer identity and finding home through an introspective lens blending indie electronic, folk and alternative rock aesthetics. The project encompasses the engineering, production and mixing of a six-track EP in order to facilitate the recording of various musicians including a drummer, pianist and cellist across various flexible DIY recording setups and within my home studio. The songwriting and ideation of the project has come to fruition within intimate moments spanning a period of 7 years across Malta and London. However, its professional recording requires the purchasing of additional audio equipment and specialised software to supplement my existing tools. Support of this project will result in the independent release of the six-track EP “The Formative Years”, while providing myself the means to pursue further projects independently.

 

Rank Order

Beneficiary:Matthew James Borg

Reference number: MCG05-26-9764

Project Title:Taħt Tapit: Official Music Video

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: Taħt Tapit is a narrative music video for an original song exploring mortality, humility, ego and the temporary nature of material ambition. Developed with acclaimed Maltese actor, writer and director Mark Doneo, the video follows an emotionally detached man who has created an AI-generated holographic world to preserve an idealised memory of his deceased daughter. Within a neglected room, purple-hued dandelions, birds and particles gradually emerge around him. A damaged dandelion hair clip, the only object he treats with care, appears perfectly restored on the holographic girl, revealing their connection and contrasting imperfect reality with perfected memory. When the artificial world collapses, he is left holding the damaged clip and confronting grief, mortality and his own withdrawal from life. The contained, performance-led production concentrates its resources on specialist VFX while advancing Matthew James’s practice in cinematic narrative storytelling.

Beneficiary: Christopher Pisani

Reference number: MCG06-26-9765

Project Title: Memorji

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: Memorji (Memories) is a musical project presenting a collection of original Funeral Marches composed by Christopher Pisani. Each composition is dedicated to family members, friends, and individuals who left a lasting impact on the composer’s life, transforming personal memories into a lasting artistic legacy. Through music, the project seeks to preserve and commemorate these stories, ensuring that the memories of those honoured continue to resonate with future generations.The collection represents a significant cultural contribution, as it is the first known anthology of Funeral Marches entirely composed by a musician from Birgu (Vittoriosa), a city renowned for its rich musical and band club traditions. The project will culminate in the production and dissemination of the album Memorji, making these original works accessible to audiences while celebrating local heritage, contemporary composition, and the enduring role of music in remembrance, reflection, and community identity.

Beneficiary: Joanna Demarco

Reference number: MCG07-26-9766

Project Title: Some Say They Don’t Die – Salt Printing

Amount awarded: €1,925

Project Description: Some Say They Don’t Die is a photographic and textual project exploring the significance of the threatened sea urchins (rizzi) in Malta, amid global species extinction. Moving away from mainstream ecological narratives, it examines what losing a species means personally, culturally, and metaphysically, gathering and visualising memories to reveal the overlooked value of creatures woven into everyday life. Photography sustains collective memory, preserving the threatened urchin’s presence.With microgrant support for the final project stage, I will transform digital images into salt prints using sea salt from Maltese water – a costly process essential to the project’s conceptual completion and to further my practice by activating my project for distribution. Both the urchin’s survival and the print’s formation depend on delicate balances of salinity and UV exposure, the salt prints therefore visualising this striving for equilibrium.

Beneficiary: Andrew Coleiro

Reference number: MCG10-26-9769

Project Title: Recording Marċi Brijjużi Andrew Coleiro

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: Il-Kompożitur Andrew Coleiro huwa wieħed mill-kompożituri magħrufa għall-marċi brijużi Maltin. Illum għandu 81 sena u jixtieq li jirrekordja sett ta’ marċi kollha kompożizzjonijiet ġodda għall- aħħar proġett li jixtieq li jagħlaq il-karriera tiegħu bħala kompożitur. Mro. Andrew Coleiro twieled fl-10 ta’ April 1945 f’ tas-Sliema. Fl-1975 kienet is-sena meta beda mal-Banda Duke of Connaught’s Own ta’ Birkirkara bħala Assistent Surmast fejn ukoll beda jgħallem l-alljevi. Wara kien ukoll inħatar Surmast tal-Banda Stella Maris Sliema u tal-Banda San Gejtanu tal-Ħamrun. Kien ukoll Surmast tal-Banda San Ġużepp ta’ Ħal Għaxaq u tal-Banda Kristu Re Raħal Ġdid. Fl-1993 inħatar Surmast tal-Banda Prekursur tax-Xewkija Għawdex fejn dam 5 snin sħaħ. Fis-sena 2002 fl-okkażjoni tal-25 sena surmast mal- Banda Karkariza, gie rrekordjat Double Compact Disk li jinkludi bosta marċi popolari li kkompona għall-Banda Duke of Connaught’s Own tul is-snin.

Beneficiary: Mark Azzopardi

Reference number: MCG12-26-9771

Project Title: Creating with Impact: Developing My Audiovisual Practice

Amount awarded: €2,985

Project Description: This project aims to strengthen and expand my audiovisual creative practice through investment in professional equipment, including a camera and high-quality microphones. As an educator, broadcaster, content creator and communications professional, I work across different forms of storytelling and digital media. The new equipment will allow me to independently produce higher-quality audiovisual content, experiment with new creative approaches and develop more ambitious artistic projects.The project will culminate in the creation of a series of original audiovisual works exploring storytelling, people, culture and contemporary issues through an engaging and accessible format. The investment will enhance my technical and artistic capabilities, reduce reliance on external production resources and provide greater creative control over the production process.Ultimately, the project seeks to develop my artistic practice while creating meaningful, professionally produced content for audiences in Malta and beyond.

Beneficiary: Keith Diplock

Reference number: MCG14-26-9775

Project Title: Live and Studio Musician Development

Amount awarded: €2,952

Project Description: Live and Studio Musician Development is a focused development project aimed at strengthening my practice as a live and studio drummer. Building on previous formal music training, band and recording experience, and current studio-based development in Malta, the project will establish the core equipment needed to work more independently across rehearsal, recording and performance settings.At present, much of my development relies on borrowed or externally available equipment, which limits my ability to practise consistently, collaborate readily with other musicians and apply studio learning independently. The project will support the purchase of professional acoustic, recording and hybrid drum equipment, enabling me to develop my sound, improve consistency and recording technique, and broaden my practical experience.The project will lead to documented live and studio work, increased collaboration with Malta-based musicians and a more sustainable, self-sufficient professional music practice.

 

Beneficiary: Mina/Jack Tolu

Reference number: MCG24-26-9787

Project Title: Tools for Graphic Novel + Documentary Production

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: In summer 2025 I started work on an artistic project that works on memory and archive with two main outputs: a short documentary, and a graphic novel. This project will piece together the history of a Mediterranean family through the Post WWII decades of decolonization. With a particular focus on Libya in the 1960s, and Malta in the 1970s. In the past year I have: researched and developed the project; worked on roughs and thumbnails for the graphic novel; digitisation and recording for the documentary. The first year of the project was also developed at workshops, residencies, and exchanges. I am using many of my own tools and resources but need supplemental ones in order to complete the project over the next year. The ACM Micro Grant would support me to buy the necessary tools and supplies to see the project through it’s next phase – production.

Beneficiary: Shaun Farrugia

Reference number: MCG26-26-9787

Project Title: Single Hole In the Boat – Marketing Budget

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: I am applying for support from Arts Council Malta for my new unreleased single, “Hole in the Boat”, which I plan to release independently.The funding will be used directly towards marketing and digital advertising around the release. This will include targeted social media campaigns aimed at reaching listeners who are most likely to connect with the style of the song, based on similar artists, genres and audience interests.The aim is to give the single the strongest possible reach, bring new listeners to my music and continue growing my audience as an Independent Maltese artist.

Beneficiary: Sean Borg

Reference number: MCG39-26-9806

Project Title: Wiċċi għad-Dawl

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: The project involves the production, recording, mixing and mastering of a new collection of original songs in Maltese. The songs draw on a range of influences, including singer-songwriter, rock, folk, jazz and soul, and explore different themes and musical styles. Working collaboratively with different musicians and creatives, the project will develop these songs into fully produced studio recordings while exploring new approaches to arrangement and production. The collection aims to bring together a varied body of Maltese-language songs within a cohesive recorded project.

 

Beneficiary: Adrian Grech

Reference number: MCG46-26-9878

Project Title: Sad Pancake – Studio Recording of Five Songs

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: This project will support the professional studio recording and production of five original songs by Malta-based alternative/indie rock band Sad Pancake. The five tracks form the first stage of the band’s debut full-length album and will transform original material developed through song writing, rehearsals and live performance into professionally produced recordings. The project will provide access to a professional recording studio and producer expertise, enabling the band to refine, record and produce each composition to a high artistic standard. The recording process will allow Sad Pancake to develop its existing repertoire beyond the live setting and establish a professionally produced body of original work. The five completed recordings will constitute a significant step in the band’s artistic development and will form the first completed component of its debut full-length album, contributing to the band’s longer-term objective of releasing its debut LP.

Beneficiary: Joel Parnis

Reference number: MCG47-26-9883

Project Title: Duel Citizen: A Musical Between Memory & Migration

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: Duel Citizen is a new original Maltese musical exploring migration, identity and belonging through the story of one Maltese-Australian family across three generations. Beginning with a family’s migration from Malta to Australia in the 1960s, the musical moves across generations and continents through music, memory and storytelling. What begins as one family’s story becomes a wider exploration of the experiences shared by thousands of Maltese families whose lives have been shaped by migration, adaptation and the search for belonging. Blending original music with personal and collective memory, Duel Citizen asks what happens to our sense of home when we leave, what we inherit from the generations before us, and how we reconcile the different identities we carry. Following a public development workshop, Duel Citizen will receive its world premiere at Spazju Kreattiv in February 2027.

Beneficiary: Agnieszka Skalowska

Reference number: MCG64-26-9969

Project Title: Beyond Scale

Amount awarded: €3,000

Project Description: “Beyond Scale” is a large-scale abstract painting project exploring the relationship between physical scale and emotional experience. I will create a series of paintings approximately 2 × 2.5 metres, using colour, gesture, texture and composition to express intangible emotions through expansive visual forms. Working at this scale allows the paintings to become immersive spaces rather than simply objects to be viewed. The project explores how emotions can exist beyond language and measurement, and how scale and space influence our perception and emotional response. The completed works will be presented in an exhibition in October 2027, offering visitors a direct and sensory experience of large-scale abstract painting while supporting the development of my artistic practice.