National Arts Education Conference
Thursday 30th October, 08.30-17.30, MCAST Paola
‘Shaping the Future: National Arts Education Conference’ shall bring together national institutional leaders, policymakers, and experts from across Europe to explore the future of arts education and the development of a national academy for the Performing and Visual Arts in Malta. Through a keynote speech, institutional position papers, and a panel discussion with leaders from some of Europe’s foremost arts education institutions, the conference will examine the challenges, opportunities, changes and investments required to build a strong, future-facing eco-system that addresses Malta’s unique cultural and educational needs and aspirations.
Click here to download the programme.
Click here to download the speakers’ bios and institutional profiles.
Download the Artworks booklet in your preferred language: English or Maltese.
Have your say. Your feedback will inform the next steps in the research and consultation process for the proposed National Academy for Performing and Visual Arts in Malta.
Keynote Speech
Prof Helena Gaunt, Principal, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Position Papers, presented by the following local institutions:
The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation
Arts Council Malta
Culture Directorate
Malta Visual and Performing Arts School (MVPA)
Mikiel Anton Vassalli College (MAVC)
MATSEC Examinations Board
Department of Art and Art History (University of Malta)
Department of Arts, Open Communities & Adult Education (University of Malta)
Department of Digital Arts (University of Malta)
School of Performing Arts (University of Malta)
Institute for Creative Arts (The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology)
Panel Discussion
Christoph Lang, Rector, F+F School of Art and Design, Zurich
Kaarlo Hildén, Rector, University of the Arts, Helsinki
Prof Karolina Šantl Zupan, Dean, Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana
Dr Lisa Peck, Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance Practice, University of Sussex
Dr Sharon Watson, CEO & Principal, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds
This conference forms part of Malta’s ongoing research and consultation process on the proposed establishment of a National Academy for Performing and Visual Arts, a strategic initiative proposed in the 2022 electoral manifesto and reflected in Malta’s National Education Strategy 2024–2030. Commissioned research has confirmed widespread support for the initiative, while also identifying significant concerns regarding the need for increased public investment and unease about the possible infrastructural fragmentation of the country’s existing arts education institutions. The conference provides a platform to articulate these needs and concerns more clearly, explore existing tools and models that could be adapted to the local context, and create the space for dialogue among stakeholders and experts to shape a shared vision for the future.
The conference is open to educators, artists, cultural leaders, policymakers, researchers, and students who are interested in shaping the future of arts education in Malta. It offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with national and international experts, gain insight into innovative practices, and contribute to a pivotal conversation on the proposed formation of a National Academy for the Performing and Visual Arts. By attending, participants will help shape the vision, values, and strategies that will guide the future of the performing and visual arts in Malta, ensuring the sector continues to grow in ways that reflect the country’s diverse cultural and educational ecosystem.
Attendance is free of charge and open to all. Spaces are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here to reserve your place.
Any accessibility requirements need to be communicated by Friday 24th October through the registration form.
