Publish Date: 10th March 2026
Arts Council Malta, though its official partnership with Sound Diplomacy Events and Education, will be taking a delegation of domestic music contributors to the upcoming Music Cities Convention in Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom.
Sound Diplomacy is a global music, culture and creative economy consultancy. They use research and data to demonstrate the economic and social value of creative industries, and provide strategic planning for cities, places, and communities to maximize their impact. Their work unlocks new opportunities, fosters sustainable development, and builds more dynamic, inclusive environments.
From the 9th to the 11th of June 2026, the Music Cities Convention will take place in Kingston upon Hull, UK.
The Music Cities Convention is the largest conference exploring the transformational power of music for cities. The Music Cities Events brand organises the biggest international conferences on music cities, music policy, and music tourism. It produces the leading international awards ceremony on music cities, the Music Cities Awards, and runs the Music Cities Community, the first-ever platform for professionals in all industries using music to create more value in towns, cities, and places.
Hull 2026 is presented as a “homecoming” edition – bringing together a global network focused on the importance of music in cities and places. This three-day event will include panels, presentations, workshops, networking events and live music performances exploring best practices and latest trends at the crossroads of music with Diversity, Youth, Education, Health, Environmentalism, Economic Development, Nighttime Economy, Real Estate and Technology.
As part of its strategy for professional development and sector support, Arts Council Malta is putting together a delegation to represent Malta’s music ecosystem at the event. Bringing a cohort of music advocates to the Music Cities Convention will be a significant step towards future proofing the benefits that music brings to our city.
Arts Council Malta is offering two places for delegates from the local music ecosystem to attend the event and participate in several activities that will help them discuss the latest trends in music cities topics and bring back that knowledge to their local and regional context within Malta (preference will be given to those applicants who have not attended in the past). Alongside the two selected creatives, the delegation will additionally be formed by Arts Council Malta’s representative on Partnerships, Advocacy, and Collaborations, who shall be serving as juror on the Music Cities Awards during this year’s edition at Hull in June.
The below costs are to be supported by Arts Council Malta:
- Travel expenses
- Accommodation
- Entrance to the convention
By attending the Music Cities Convention, selected applicants will have an opportunity to:
- Actively contribute towards Sound Diplomacy’s programme of activities by bringing fresh perspectives to the dialogues within the network and contributing to the long-term development of the global music sector;
- Expand their international network and find new collaborators and partners across all diverse sectoral contexts;
- Allow the opportunity for international visibility of alternative and/or innovative working models, practices and ideas developed in their professional local context and communities;
- Develop new skills and knowledge through peer-to-peer learning;
- Become inspired in their professional lives, which they can and will be expected to share with their local communities.
Application requirements
- Applicants should have a minimum of three years of professional experience in creative practice within the music sector.
- Be actively involved in the music sector (such as producers, performers, DJs, composers, conductors, music educators, sound designers, promoters, music therapists, recording engineers and/or music directors);
- It would be desirable if applicants also have experience and knowledge engaging with policymakers, local councils, authorities or community stakeholders in the context of their music-related practices;
- Applicants must be able to travel during the timeframe stipulated in section 1.2 of the guidelines.
Guidelines
Click here to download guidelines
Deadline to apply: 09th April 2026 at 12:00 CET.
Apply here