The Theatre Spaces Support Scheme is one of Arts Council Malta’s funding schemes to invest in the infrastructural development of Malta’s cultural and creative sectors by supporting community theatre spaces, to improve and maintain their existing infrastructure and enable artistic output, in line with ACM’s Strategy2025.
The scheme addresses Strategy2025 by aiming to provide support to repurpose and upgrade existing spaces for organisations/companies/individuals in the cultural and creative sectors via collaborative frameworks with already-existing community theatre spaces.
The aims and objectives of the scheme are to:
• Revitalize existing community spaces: to support the repurposing and upgrading of existing theatre community spaces, transforming them into versatile, functional theatre spaces that cater to the evolving needs of the cultural and creative sectors.
• Foster collaborative partnerships: establish collaborative frameworks that encourage partnerships between creative individuals, groups, companies, voluntary organisations and community theatre spaces, to enable the potential of the community theatre space to become sustainable, multi-functional cultural hubs.
• Enhance accessibility and inclusivity: improve access to theatre and creative spaces for underrepresented and marginalized groups, ensuring that these upgraded spaces are accessible to all members of the community, including those with different abilities.
• Sustainability in infrastructure: promote environmentally responsible upgrades, ensuring that all space enhancements are in line with green building standards and contribute to long-term sustainability objectives.
• Empower local creative economies: stimulate local economies by providing opportunities for creative professionals, including freelancers, to access well-equipped spaces that enable them to develop, rehearse, and present their work.
By aligning these aims and objectives with Strategy2025, the Theatre Spaces Support Scheme will foster a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable creative ecosystem that leverages underutilized community spaces for the benefit of the wider cultural sector.
Applicants are required to consider the Right to Culture – Resource Pack when developing their proposal in relation to how they engage with communities and the considerations of everyone’s cultural rights in their work. The resource pack is aimed at increasing awareness regarding inclusivity and supporting the implementation of cultural rights in our day-to-day practice.
Applicants are also required to consider the Charter for the Status of the Artist when proposing their operational and programming activities to ensure acceptable and decent working conditions for artists and creative practitioners which embraces artistic freedom, accessibility, formal/informal/non-formal skill recognition, decent socio-economic conditions, non-discrimination and equity, ethical considerations and adherence to intellectual property rights and international labour law. The Charter for the Status of the Artist is meant to provide a dynamic frame of reference for any legislation, policy, or initiative which directly or indirectly impacts artists and cultural and creative sectors, ensuring that any action is aligned with the ultimate long-term vision of elevating the status of artists in Malta in line with their tangible value to society.
Who can apply?
The grant is open to undertakings for which assistance will be granted in line with the General Block Exemption regulation (kindly refer to Section 9 of these guidelines for additional information). Applicants must be the owners of a community theatre space. Furthermore, applicants must qualify as a:
• Voluntary organisation enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations that is compliant for the year 2022.
Deadline
The deadline to apply is Tuesday 26th November 2024 at noon.
Guidelines
Click here to download guidelines and click here to download applications template.
Applicants are required to register a new profile as from January 2021.
Apply here.
Results
Application Deadline: 26th November 2024
Ranking Order
Beneficiary: Għaqda Banda Żejtun
Reference number: TSS08-24-4962
Project Title: Rehabilitation and Upgrading of the Pandora Theatre Roof
Amount awarded: €100,000
The Pandora Theatre is undergoing a crucial restoration and structural improvement project aimed at replacing the defective roof while safeguarding the historical and architectural integrity of the building. This community theatre is a cultural hub that fosters artistic expression and community engagement. This project underscores a commitment to cultural preservation, community development, and sustainable practices. By restoring the Pandora Theatre, the space will continue to serve as a cherished venue for creative expression and a bridge connecting the local community through the arts.
Beneficiary: Assoċjazzjoni Rotunda
Reference number: TSS07-24-4961
Project Title: Teatru Giovanni
Amount awarded: € 69,740
The Teatru Ġiovanni project aims at strengthening the community theatre’s role of serving as a hub for creativity, education, and integration. Through this project, accessibility, safety and functionality will be improved through infrastructural upgrades, ensuring that the theatre serves a broader and more diverse audience, including people with different abilities in an inclusive and supportive environment. Teatru Ġiovanni will become a central venue where creativity is nurtured, education is provided, and community groups can come together for appreciation of culture which enriches our understanding of the world, fosters creativity, and strengthens community bonds, allowing us to celebrate our shared heritage while embracing diverse perspectives and experiences. This project is being developed in the spirit of the national policy as expressed in the Right for Culture and the Charter for the Status of the Artist documents, specifically to increase collaboration and inclusivity of societal groups through participation in accessible theatre and arts.
Beneficiary: Leone Philharmonic Society
Reference number: TSS12-24-4967
Project Title: Safe Enviroment and Conservation of the Teatru tal-Opra Aurora
Amount awarded: € 60,520
The Soċ. Fil. Leone prides itself in its biggest theatre in the Maltese Islands. However, this comes with its challenges especially when it comes to upkeep and upgrades. Funding like the Theatre Spaces Support Scheme improve the Soċ. Fil. Leone’s chances to improve the theatre’s spaces to reach (and possibly exceed) international stages. This project is only a minute of the Soċ. Fil. Leone’s vision for the theatre. In fact, the committee has commissioned a study by the renowned Profs. Alex Torpiano, to study ways in which the theatre can elevate its performance, aesthetics, versatility and functionality. The project shall encompass: Bathrooms Accessibility, Sanitary Ware and Water Conservation, Staircase Railing and Marble Staircase Upgrade, Foyer Ramp Installation, Wall Panelling Installation,Interactive Poster Displays, Improvement of Emergency Exit Facilities, Fire Doors Installation and Maintenance of roof.
Beneficiary: Soċjeta Filarmonika La Stella – Gozo
Reference number: TSS09-24-4963
Project Title: Enhancing the experience of Teatru Astra’s patrons and the theatre’s operational capacity.
Amount awarded: €69,740
Teatru Astra’s annual programme includes major productions in the form of an opera, musical, a pantomime and other community events and it is estimated that such events attract, annually an audience of 23,000 people. Besides the striking number, what is also significant is that such numbers are hosted in within 7 months of the year – between October and May. The theatre is not in a position to operate between June and September since it lacks an air-conditioning system. The Theatre is proposing an investment in an air conditioning system which would enhance the experience of the current patrons in line with the expectation one would expect form a modern theatre and amply significantly (to 30,000) the number of patrons the theatre can host. Teatru Astra is owned by an NGO and managed by volunteers. Its financial resources are extremely limited and only benefits from event support funding.
Submitting ...
Saving ...
Any applications related to this entity, will also be automatically deleted.
