Regional Cultural Cooperation Programme

This programme will help Regions and those involved in their councils to support and maintain Malta’s creative and cultural ecology, whilst practicing cultural diplomacy by enabling cultural activities and collaborations with creative practitioners and cultural operators to:

Introduce programmes that will actively involve participants of various demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, nationality) within the various cultural regional areas.
Nurture cross-sectoral synergies at local and national levels to recognise arts and culture as essential for the well-being of all.
Maintain, build, and foster new and existing strategic partnerships, collaborations, and networks nationally to enable further opportunities for artists and practitioners.
Advocate for the involvement of diverse communities in decision-making processes, whilst providing opportunities for community involvement and responsibility to widen the scope of engagement within the arts and culture.

The Regional council will need to provide a proposed programme of related activities with a set of common objectives, which may include events, productions, performances, exhibitions, festivals, community cultural initiatives, research, training, and development initiatives in order to make the case for their proposals in line with the respective Regional Cultural Strategies. The programme aims to facilitate more collaborations between a Region and cultural operators for each cultural project, which are respective of each Region, as well as beyond, to encourage cross-sectoral engagement.

The Regional Cultural Cooperation Programme aims to invest in:

• Increased cultural participation of all generations and demographics across Malta and Gozo.
• Enhanced communication and tangible practice between Regions and cultural operators
• Diversity in cultural and regional programming
• A culture that is much more representative of Maltese society at large, by extending our practice beyond the traditional.

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.

Results

Application Deadline: 29th July 2025

Rank Order

Beneficiary: Port Regional Council

Reference number: RCCP07-25-6294

Project Title: NEXUS ; A Cross Generational Project

Amount awarded: €20,000

NEXUS – A Cross-Generational Project- NEXUS is a seven-part cross-generational cultural programme that fosters connection, creativity, and memory-sharing across Malta’s port region. Focusing on the elderly (65+) and children (under 16), it features artistic workshops, visual installations, and performances rooted in place, heritage, and community. The initiatives include: “SIGNAL LOST // SIGNAL FOUND” by visual artists Martina Darmanin and Sheldon Saliba; “Father and Son: Port Stories”, a photography project by award-winning photographer Valery Poshtarov; Calligraphy Workshops by artist Dorissa Vella; “Sounding the Harbour” led by Aiso Music Academy; “Rakkonti tal-Beltin – Rakkonti tal-Furjaniżi” by FSWS Valletta and Floriana; a forum theatre led by Zararti Malta Cultural Association, and a community theatre production led by Yvette Grech Buhagiar. Together, these projects bridge generational divides – while introducing innovative and creative ways of exploring local identity and inclusion.

Beneficiary: Kunsill Reġjonali Lvant

Reference number: RCCP10-25-6318

Project Title: O’ Holy Nights – Chapel Trail

Amount awarded: €20,000

O’ Holy Nights – Chapel Trail is a vibrant, community-led project by the Eastern Regional Council celebrating Maltese heritage, Christmas traditions, local creativity and Regional artistic talent. Building on last year’s successful Regional Tour, this year’s edition blends workshops, exhibitions, and performances into a two-day festival across chapels and heritage sites. Highlights include traditional crib-making workshops, ceramic ornament sessions, meditative art workshops, and poetry derived from elders’ Christmas memories. Audiences will enjoy site-specific exhibitions and performances, including choir carols, nativity scenes, monologues, and a performance by The New Victorians. The project proudly features collaborations with artists like Pawlu Muscat, Nadyanne Mangion, Maria Theresa Portelli, and Gabriel Lia, as well as groups like EnKor, offering enriching experiences for all ages. With shuttle services linking venues, the trail invites the public to rediscover the spirit of Christmas through art, memory, and storytelling in stunning settings.

Beneficiary: Reġjun Punent

Reference number: RCCP04-25-6243

Project Title: Darba Waħda fil-Villaġġ…/ Once Upon a Village…

Amount awarded: €20,000

Darba Waħda fil-Villaġġ…/Once Upon a Village… is a rotating cultural exchange programme spread over a year, where children from the localities in Malta’s Reġjun Punent explore each other’s towns and villages. Children will have the opportunity to delve into the particular cultural identity and uniqueness of these towns and villages. As part of a half-day cultural experience, they will meet local artisans, learn about the heritage and traditions of the locality, and even meet the Mayor. They will also get hands-on experience through typical craft workshops such as ravioli making or stone carving. Surely, at the end, children will have a story to tell. The programme culminates in a Punent Tales Festival, where children become “cultural guides,” presenting what they have learned through performances, exhibitions and storytelling booths. This playful yet meaningful exchange will strengthen cultural understanding, foster pride in local heritage and encourage regional collaboration through children’s eyes.

Beneficiary: Southern Regional Council

Reference number: RCCP08-25-6299

Project Title: Hena -Emozzjoni,Narrativa u Arti

Amount awarded: €17,509

The Project Hena -Emozzjoni, Narrativa u Arti main objective is to foster awareness of regional identity, and intergenerational connection across the 12 localities forming the Southern Regional Council. Key actors in this progamme will include young teens (12-14 years), families, educators, artists, and community practitioners. As the title indicates L-Hena is to inspire contemporary expressions – Emozzjoni, creativity in young people by connecting them with their locality’s history, traditions – Narattiva and culture exploration -Arti. Whilst the silent H signifies the aura of silence which is also very important part of our being. In doing so, the project celebrates identity while strengthening community ties. We aim to: Introduce children and young adolescents to regional heritage through playful learning, promote active participation from families and schools to reinforce cultural transmission across generations and explore wellness through creativity, movement, and cultural pride, aligning with the Southern Region’s annual theme of wellbeing.

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