€1 million investment in support of Maltese festivals
Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, has announced the beneficiaries of the 2025 Artistic Heritage Scheme. An unprecedented €1 million investment has been allocated for this year. In the first call, 83 applicants will be awarded a grant of €800,000 in support of Maltese festivals. The second call will open in August.
This year has seen an increase in funding of €300,000 for this scheme, resulting in a significant 43% increase in the funding provided.
Minister Bonnici praised the invaluable work carried out by voluntary organisations related to festivals, such as band clubs, festival staging organisations and fireworks associations. He also assured those present that the Government will continue to support and safeguard these traditions.
“Year after year we continue to increase our investment in these community-led initiatives, thus fulfilling our electoral promise to protect our cultural identity. We are doing this through tangible investments that help these creative sectors flourish in a sustainable manner. Traditions such as festivals, which are protected by UNESCO, are part of our intangible cultural heritage, as are fireworks. These form an intrinsic part of our cultural fabric. We are committed to ensure that they have the appropriate resources to thrive,” stressed Bonnici.
Arts Council Malta’s Chief Operating Officer (Funding and Strategy) Mary Ann Cauchi said, “Our journey to strengthen Malta’s heritage and cultural resources continues in line with the principles set out in the Council’s Strategy. These types of initiatives have made it possible for us to offer constant support in a sustainable manner while allowing us to improve accessibility to traditional events so that they can be enjoyed by every member of the community. In this way we are continuing to safeguard the artistic and cultural diversity of the Maltese Islands while also promoting heritage-driven regeneration.”
The full list of selected projects is available here.
For more details about the Artistic Heritage Scheme and other funding opportunities visit https://artscouncilmalta.gov.mt/.
