The Theatre Productions Support Scheme forms part of Arts Council Malta’s support portfolio, investing in theatre practice, production, and audience development within 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 aims to support the objectives of Strategy 2030 by actively seeking to:

• Nurture theatre-makers and support their development, encouraging co-creation, collaboration, and experimentation within theatre practice;
• Invest in theatrical excellence by encouraging creative risk taking, experimentation, and active engagement with communities while supporting quality productions and processes, as well as identifying talent and encouraging its development;
• Promote and support diversity, inclusivity, and community development, while enabling collaborative environments , knowledge development, and dissemination of good practice;
• Provide disadvantaged groups with accessibility to a wide range of theatre experiences and opportunities for meaningful engagement through theatre;
• Facilitate the creation of platforms for young promising talent, intergenerational engagement, as well as intercultural engagement through theatre.

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 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 theatre projects:

1. Theatre practice and production, namely:
   
   – The development, creation, rehearsal, production, presentation, and touring of quality-driven theatre work which expands how theatre is made and experienced by artists, practitioners, audiences, and communities;
   
2. Projects relating to Malta’s theatre communities, designed to document, preserve, reinterpret or critically engage with Malta’s theatrical legacy in an open and sustainable manner. Audience and community engagement, namely:
   
   – Theatre projects and/or programming which enable and promote participation, creative expression, and/or awareness and appreciation relating to collective memory and the theatrical and cultural life of the community;
   – Exploration of participatory and innovative approaches to the use of new spaces and audience engagement, aimed at developing immersive experiences and deepening engagement with both existing and new audiences through theatre practice and/or research;
   – Exploration of ways to improve access to theatre, and to promote inclusive participation and greater diversity within theatre.

This scheme provides support to theatre-makers, producers, companies, registered cooperatives, voluntary organisations, and communities throughout the development and implementation phases, and covers the time and resources needed for research, development, rehearsal, production, presentation, and audience engagement. Furthermore, the scheme aims to invest in the research and development phase for which applicants are to dedicate a minimum of Euro 10,000 from the grant to support the initial creative process.

In line with its commitment to supporting the arts through sustainable and accountable approach to public investment:

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 collaborators, audiences, participants, and communities through theatre 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 within the framework of theatre practice and production.