Diversity, equity and inclusion are as crucial to arts and culture as they are to individual and collective well-being, sustainable development and stronger communities. Diversity acknowledges and values differences, and it encourages and enables continued contribution within an inclusive context where everyone can feel they belong. While inclusiveness ensures that everyone can participate, diversity allows people to take part on their own terms, removing barriers so as to nurture wider cultural participation and safeguard everyone’s right to equal opportunities to enjoy their individual human rights and achieve their full potential.
We believe that culture can be a catalyst that nurtures diverse and inclusive communities – where all people are treated with dignity and respect, as well as valued and equitably supported in realising their cultural rights. We aim to promote and strive for the protection and realisation of the rights and freedoms of each person (both individually and in community with others) to develop their full potential and express their humanity, their worldview and the meanings they give to their existence and development through, inter alia, values, beliefs, convictions, languages, knowledge, the arts, institutions and ways of life. In order to do so, there needs to be protection and promotion of access to cultural heritage and resources that allow such identification and development processes to take place. In these communities, we enable and support openness, authenticity and critical thinking, promote awareness of diverse narratives and acknowledge challenges and opportunities. We shall collaborate across sectors to ensure that everyone, irrespective of sex, gender, racial or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief, has access to arts and culture, as well as the benefits and well-being they generate and that this power is duly shared.
We will work with all local, national and international organisations and individuals across sectors whose key responsibilities could support culture’s central role in building a fairer, more prosperous and more resilient society, actively engaging in local, regional and global debate and shaping sustainable development in communities and the cultural sphere. We will also work with players within local communities to leverage cultural and social innovation for the benefit of their communities and society. We believe that we can enhance this approach further by advocating and investing in measures that encourage active cultural participation, strengthen audience engagement and support overall artistic development through community-led initiatives.
As fundamentally embedded components of Strategy 2025, we will enable, support and advocate for the realisation of cultural rights, greater diversity, equity and inclusiveness, as well as for environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Articles in the media
A Glimmer of Hope at the End of the Year : Publication of Phoenix Rising, which marks the end of a project called My Survival, My Experience supported by Il-Premju tal-President għall-Kreattività 2015.
Food for Thought, Interview, Times of Malta, 30 September 2016
Useful links
aditus foundation : A VO focusing almost exclusively on advocacy, on constantly pushing the bar higher and higher in order to achieve stronger and more effective human rights protection for all persons in Malta. The foundation is inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and as lawyers are wholly committed to removing those obstacles preventing anyone from accessing and enjoying their fundamental human rights.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ : established in February 2011 to promote the interests of young people and to provide assistance to youth organisations and young people in achieving their potential. The aim in establishing Aġenzija Żgħażagħ is to mainstream youth related issues and further develop youth services. It enables further investment in young people and helps them realise their potential. Aġenzija Żgħażagħ’s overall objective is to provide a coherent, cohesive and unified Government approach to addressing the needs and aspirations of young people.
Artraker Foundation : launched as an initiative in 2012 and established as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2013. The Foundation supports exceptional visual arts projects that shape how people and organisations understand, engage and respond to violent conflict and situations of violence.
Kummissjoni għad-Drittijiet ta' Persuni b'Diżabilità : provides a number of services for persons with disability and their families. Malta signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol in March 2007.
Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) : supporting the developmen
Malta Health Network : represents - in Malta, in the European Union and internationally - the interests of patients and health of the community, with the aim of developin better coordination, collaboration, and capacity building through exchange of best practice among health-related NGO's, health-related non-profit organisations and patient representation groups.
Migrant Women Association Malta (MWAM) : An autonomous, independent, voluntary non-profit making organization, having as its main objective the social and community advancement concerning migrant women in the Maltese Islands. The MWAM is committed towards empowering migrant women to enable them to fully integrate within the society of the host country, in this case the Maltese Islands, and to realise their full potential.
Moveo Dance Company : a company constantly searching for the new and for that which can capture an ambiguous notion in its performances. The constant study of the body in motion is also very essential to the company's work. It means that what it creates is never static and is always evolving. The body in performance is what intrigues the company the most, and within this there is a whole spectrum of possibilities that includes identity, cultural and social behaviours.
MUŻA : the new National Museum of Art in Malta and Heritage Malta’s flagship project for Valletta’s Capital City of Culture title in 2018. It represents a significant development in the history of museums in Malta as a new museum typology in line with the latest developments in Europe and elsewhere. It shall promote greater participation by the community through a story-based narrative of display and related objects and empower a broader range of access tools to experience heritage and culture.
Nanniet Malta : Grandparents Malta is a community-based organisation aimed at improving the relationship and well-being between Grandparents and their Grandchildren through collective activities benefitting themselves and the community.
National Book Council : Services the Maltese book industry, whilst striving to encourage reading and promote the book as a medium of communication in all its formats. It organises the Malta Book Festival and the National Book Prize - amongst other national as well as smaller scale events, administers Public Lending Rights, organises several literary contests and is also the local agent for ISBN and ISMN.
Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (CVO) : set up by the Voluntary Organisations Act - Cap. 23 of 2007, with the task to strengthen the voluntary sector through various initiatives, with the specific aim of promoting the work of VOs as well as encouraging their role as partners with the government in various initiatives.
Opening Doors : L-Assoċjazzjoni Opening Doors tipprovdi spazju, taħriġ u opportunità biex persuni b’diżabilita’ intelettwali jaħdmu bħala artisti. Din l-etika lejn il-bniedem tiffonda l-bażi tax-xogħol teatrali: sensittività lejn ħaddieħor, żvilupp f’ħiliet personali u artistiċi, u l-preżentazzjoni tax-xogħol.
Platform of Human Rights Organisations in Malta (PHROM) : the nation’s first network of NGOs striving to promote human rights. PHROM was established “to provide a national forum for human rights organisations in Malta to develop, promote and advocate for the values of human dignity and equality more effectively.” (Article 3.1, PHROM Statutes). As such, the Platform attracts membership from Maltese NGOs working directly and indirectly in the promotion of human rights values, with the understanding the networked advocacy is more effective, sustainable and exciting.
President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society (PFWS) : a not-for-profit entity founded by the President of Malta for initiatives to help improve social inclusion and standards of living.
Prison Education and Re-entry Programme
Re.Cri.Re project : Sixteen universities and research Centres, covering 13 European countries, are working together to investigate what kind of social identity change is occurring in Europe in time of crisis. The three-year project started in May 2015. It is aimed at analyzing cultures of European societies and the impacts of the socio-economic crisis on them, in order to frame better policies at local, national and European level. To this end, civil society, policy-makers and experts of social sciences will be involved in the Re.Cri.Re. actions.
Scouts Malta (TSAM) : Founded in 1908, the Scout Association of Malta has always maintained a high and respectable scouting tradition. Its leaders and members are committed to further the ideals of Scouting in line with those as traditionally established by the Founder, Lord Baden Powell and as further developed by the World Scout Movement. The Association is a forward looking organisation that enjoys great respect both locally and internationally. It is a member of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement as well as a member of the European Scout Region.
See Clearly Now (SCN) : a voluntary organisation aimed at creating an inclusive movement that, through the sharing of knowledge and reason, will inspire and support people to meliorate themselves, their communities and the world.
SOS Malta Solidarity Overseas Service : A non governmental organisation working in Malta and overseas, assisting peoples through projects of a social and charitable nature - helping them to improve quality of life. It helps to enhance the knowledge and skills of those it serves, advocates on behalf of the poor, promotes models of good care and practice, and works with local and international NGO’s in order to achieve its aims.
Teatru Salesjan : The theatre forms part of a wider complex called the Salesian Oratory (Salesjani Sliema), which acts as a hub of activity for people of all ages. The theatre is an important element of this network, with its values shared across the complex.
The Commissioner for Children : set up in terms of the Commissioner for Children Act of 2003, to promote the welfare of children and the compliance with the UN Convention on the rights of the child, as ratified by Malta on the 26th of January 1990, and such other international treaties, conventions or agreements relating to children as are or may be ratified or otherwise acceded to by Malta.
The Creative Arts Therapies Society (C.A.T.S.) Malta : a voluntary organisation driven by a strong desire for mutual support and sharing of ideas, as well as recognition of the need for recognition and representation of the Arts Therapies on a National level.
UNHCR Malta : The UNHCR Malta office opened in 2005 and falls under the regional office of Rome. The office's first challenge was to meet the high influx of boat arrivals from the Libyan coast heading for the European mainland. UNHCR also works closely with the Maltese government, social partners and a number of local organizations and NGOs not only to find durable solutions for refugees and beneficiaries of protection in Malta, but also to advocate and work towards improved access to protection and conditions of asylum in Malta; an increased protection-sensitive asylum system and related policies; to strengthen the capacities of government and partner agencies; and to increase general awareness about asylum issues in the country.
Żfin Malta dance ensemble (ŻMDE) : the repertory national company of Malta that aims to thrive in the sharing and employment of a wide range of repertoire - ranging from new works created in Malta by both local and international choreographers (upcoming and established) to the re-staging of renowned works from all over the world, thus creating a company of versatility, whilst maintaining a clear identity with its Euro-Mediterranean roots. Underpinning this vision is the desire to inspire, excite and most importantly, include audiences in the ideas and constant developments evident in the nature of the contemporary arts internationally today.
