Application deadline: 18th March 2025
Ranking Order
Beneficiary: Kristina Borg
Reference number: ARD42-25-5477
Project Title: Wombs on Strike – Interdisciplinary exploratory artistic research leading to a proof of concept
Amount awarded: € 15,000
Wombs on Strike – Interdisciplinary exploratory artistic research leading to a proof of concept is a socially embedded artistic exploration that utilises an interdisciplinary and co-creative methodology, framed around a women’s rights-based approach. The proposal aims to collect, tell and share women stories that celebrate the multitudes of womanhood and the diversity expressed beyond motherhood, by looking at the multiple, diverse narratives and experiences of Malta/Gozo-based women who opt(ed) not to have children across generations, mapping out commonalities, contrasts, intersections and varied nuances that this life choice might entail; a life choice that challenges and resists the gender stereotype of women as mothers (Chollet, 2023; Louie, 2025; Magennis, 2024; O’Donnell Heffington, 2023; Warrington, 2024). The overall objective will culminate in the development of a proof of concept, and will be achieved by adopting a cross-sectoral collaboration, including arts and creativity, cultural anthropology, sociology, gender issues, human rights and activism.
Beneficiary: Culture Venture
Reference number: ARD05-25-5100
Project Title: AI & Artistic practice in Malta
Amount awarded: € 15,000
The project investigates the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the creative practices and working conditions of artists in Malta, specifically those involved in literature, visual arts, music, performing arts, and interdisciplinary fields. The research seeks to understand how artists perceive AI and its impact on their work. It will explore both the challenges and opportunities AI introduces to artistic practices, as well as its effect on artists’ working environments in Malta. Using a combination of quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups with artists from various disciplines, the research will identify key barriers, ethical issues, and the support needed for AI adoption. The findings will help create a framework for developing recommendations on integrating AI into artistic practices and improving working conditions for artists. Additionally, actionable suggestions will be generated through a collaborative co-design process, focusing on the future use of AI in the arts.
Beneficiary: Studio 18
Reference number: ARD59-25-5516
Project Title: Breaking through the Surface – Power, Resilience, and Identity in Competitive Sports
Amount awarded: € 13,040
Competitive sports, often celebrated for discipline and teamwork, can also expose athletes to extreme pressure, hierarchies, and power imbalances—often unspoken. Studio 18, known for socially responsive, research-driven theatre, is launching a project to explore these hidden complexities within Malta’s aquatic sports community. This initiative will investigate the psychological and systemic struggles athletes face, translating real experiences into a compelling theatrical work. Through structured research, script development by acclaimed writer Simone Spiteri, and actor-led workshops, the project aligns with Studio 18’s commitment to interdisciplinary, inclusive methodologies. The research phase lays the foundation for a full-scale production, using theatre to provoke dialogue, challenge perceptions, and support local youth in sports. By exploring power dynamics, resilience, and personal growth, this project ensures theatre remains a transformative force, tackling real issues within the local community.
Beneficiary: Philip Leone Ganado
Reference number: ARD44-25-5479
Project Title: Din l-Art Artek: development of Game Theatre project
Amount awarded: € 14,500
This project aims to research and develop an innovative piece of game theatre—a live, interactive experience that actively engages a playing audience of 15-20 participants. Designed for intimate, small-scale spaces, the work will build on the creative team’s previous exploration of interactive storytelling in a hyperlocal context. Rooted in pressing contemporary issues relevant to the Maltese experience and methods of addressing them through collective action, the piece will invite participants to navigate and shape a narrative that resonates both locally and internationally. By blending theatrical immersion with game mechanics, the project will create a dynamic, engaging performance that is adaptable for both local audiences and international touring, including engagement with Malta’s tourist market. Through this work, we seek to push the boundaries of playable theatre, deepening audience involvement in storytelling while addressing themes that matter to Maltese society today.
Beneficiary: Kurt Calleja
Reference number: ARD04-25-5099
Project Title: Sonic Drift: Urban Soundscapes and Co-created Performances
Amount awarded: € 12,592
Sonic Drift is a research-driven artistic and community project exploring urban soundscapes through the dérive, a method of spontaneous movement from the Situationist International. Sound artists will navigate the city, recording ambient noises and urban rhythms to create experimental compositions. Prioritizing immersion and chance over structured composition, the project challenges conventional music-production, transforming the city into both an instrument and a collaborator. These compositions will act as auditory maps, offering fresh perspectives on urban life. Culminating in a 2026 performance at the Malta Society of Arts as part of Sustain Delay’s programme, audiences will experience the manipulated soundscapes shaped by the dérive.
Beneficiary: Kaylie Magri
Reference number: ARD24-25-5358
Project Title: Connect
Amount awarded: € 13,900
”Connect” is an exploratory, interdisciplinary project by two young emerging artists. Kaylie Magri is an actor and musician; Angela Bettoni is a performer, writer and advocate with Down Syndrome. Their main research question is “What is the role of intimacy within platonic friendships?” They will use their personal writings to develop the text that will form the starting point for the work. The performative aspect will consist of music, movement, dance and physical theatre, with collaborators Luke Bugeja Gauci, Noah Fabri and Douglas Comley contributing to the creative process. Initial ideas will be tested with peers, which will help to answer additional questions such as on how movement, gesture and touch can communicate platonic affection in a performance setting, and how audiences respond to displays of intimacy. It is hoped that this work will pave the way for future projects where young artists take the initiative to create mixed-ability work.
Beneficiary: Chewing Productions
Reference number: ARD47-25-5481
Project Title: IL-KUNSILL | Exploring Gig Theatre, Politics, and Active Citizenship
Amount awarded: € 15,000
Il-KUNSILL (Working Title) brings together musicians, theatre-makers, performers, and community artists to explore how their artforms and creative practices may exist in a shared devising process that will work towards the development of a narratively driven concept album and gig theatre performance. The project will explore themes of political representation, corruption, social progress, and environmental/urban planning. It will involve various methods of research and development across four phases and will result in a short tour of performances as a gig at local bar venues and social spaces, as well as documentary material that will be captured by a filmmaker throughout the process. Methods of R&D will include devising workshops with actors and the creative team, desk research on the form and content being explored, community engagement initiatives such as workshops, interviews, and discussions, and co-creating and writing sessions to develop and test out new music, text, and performance material.
