Arts in Schools Scheme: Fostering Creativity in Education (Malta)

Deadline: 21-Apr-2026

The Arts in Schools Scheme supports collaborations between educational institutions in Malta and creative practitioners to strengthen arts education through innovative, curriculum-linked projects. The scheme aims to enrich learning, encourage collaboration, and give students and educators direct exposure to creative practice across early years to tertiary education.

About the Scheme

The Arts in Schools Scheme offers educational institutions a valuable opportunity to improve arts education by bringing creative practitioners into schools and colleges.

The scheme supports projects that allow students and educators to learn, create, and collaborate in innovative ways while connecting schools with the Maltese artistic and cultural sector.

Objectives of the Scheme

The scheme aims to:

• Bring creative practitioners into educational institutions to work with students and educators

• Support projects that involve the local school community and the Maltese artistic scene

• Encourage projects that complement the curriculum from early years to secondary education

• Add value to learning experiences and school environments

• Promote collaboration between education, the culture and creative sectors, and areas such as science and technology

• Encourage innovation and creative exploration in post-secondary and tertiary institutions

Why This Scheme Matters

The scheme is important because it helps schools move beyond traditional classroom learning by integrating creative arts, collaboration, and innovative teaching methods.

It gives:

• Students direct exposure to professional artistic practice

• Educators opportunities to explore new pedagogical approaches

• Schools stronger links with Malta’s cultural and creative ecosystem

This supports wider access to the arts while helping build 21st-century skills such as creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Educational institutions or colleges offering formal education

• Institutions serving learners from:

  • Early Years Cycle

  • Primary and secondary education

  • Post-secondary education

  • Tertiary education

Applicants must also be:

• Maltese citizens, or

• Hold a residence permit in Malta, or

• Hold a certificate of Maltese citizenship, or

• Hold a Maltese passport

Project Requirements

Each project must include collaboration between:

• An educational institution

• One or more creative practitioners

In addition:

• A project coordinator must be appointed

• The coordinator may be a staff member or one of the collaborators

• The coordinator will act as the main contact with Arts Council Malta

• The coordinator will oversee project implementation

• Funding may also be used to engage an external coordinator if needed

How the Scheme Works

To fit the scheme well, a project should:

1. Build a school-artist collaboration

   • Partner with a creative practitioner or cultural professional.

2. Link the project to learning goals

   • Make sure the activity supports or complements the curriculum.

3. Create student engagement

   • Design activities where students actively participate in creative processes.

4. Show innovation

   • Include collaborative, interdisciplinary, or experimental approaches where possible.

5. Assign a coordinator

   • Appoint a clear project lead for communication and delivery.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting a project without a clear creative practitioner partnership

• Failing to show how the project supports the curriculum or learning experience

• Not appointing a project coordinator

• Providing a vague project concept without clear student benefit

• Missing the connection to the Maltese artistic community

FAQs

What is the Arts in Schools Scheme?

It is a scheme that supports partnerships between educational institutions in Malta and creative practitioners to enhance arts education through collaborative projects.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants are educational institutions or colleges offering formal education from Early Years Cycle to Tertiary Education.

Does the project need to involve artists or creative practitioners?

Yes. Each project is expected to include collaboration between the educational institution and creative practitioners.

Can the project support curriculum learning?

Yes. The scheme specifically encourages projects that complement the curriculum and add value to the learning experience.

Is a project coordinator required?

Yes. Each project must appoint a project coordinator who will be the main contact with Arts Council Malta and oversee implementation.

Can funding be used for an external coordinator?

Yes. Funds may be used to engage an external coordinator if needed.

Final Takeaway

The Arts in Schools Scheme is an excellent opportunity for Maltese educational institutions to strengthen arts education through meaningful collaboration with creative practitioners. By linking arts, learning, and innovation, the scheme helps create richer educational experiences for students while supporting collaboration across education, culture, and other sectors.

For more information, visit Arts Council Malta.