Deadline: 11-Aug-2026
The Culture Pass Grant Scheme provides funding to support cultural and artistic experiences for children and students through high-quality creative productions. The scheme offers up to EUR 15,000 per producer (calculated at EUR 5 per student) to deliver activities that complement educational learning and promote arts, culture, creativity, and innovation. Eligible applicants include individuals, artistic collectives, and registered cultural non-governmental organizations.
Program Overview: Funding for Cultural and Artistic Education
The Culture Pass Grant Scheme is an initiative of the Directorate of Culture within the Ministry for the Arts, Culture and National Heritage and Arts Council Malta.
The programme supports cultural and artistic productions that provide meaningful learning experiences for children and students from kindergarten through post-secondary education (up to MQF Level 4). Activities must take place between the programme launch date and June 2027.
Key Objectives of the Scheme
- Provide high-quality cultural and artistic experiences for children and students
- Support educational learning through arts and culture
- Complement the National Curriculum learning outcomes
- Encourage creativity, innovation, and artistic participation
- Develop new artistic productions for young audiences
- Strengthen collaboration between education, culture, science, and technology sectors
- Build future audiences for arts and cultural activities
Priority Focus Areas
Cultural and Artistic Education
- Cultural learning experiences
- Arts education
- Creative performances
- Educational cultural activities
Curriculum Enhancement
Creativity and Innovation
- Original artistic productions
- Creative development
- Innovation in arts education
- New work for young audiences
Social and Personal Development
- Education for sustainable development
- Entrepreneurship
- Diversity and inclusion
- Creativity and innovation
- Student participation in culture
Cross-Sector Collaboration
- Education and culture partnerships
- Science and technology integration
- Interdisciplinary learning experiences
Funding Structure
Grant Amount
- Maximum funding: EUR 15,000 per producer
- Funding rate: EUR 5 per student
Project Period
- Activities must be delivered between the programme launch date and June 2027.
- Each producer may receive funding for one school year.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Individuals aged 18 years or older
- Artistic collectives
- Registered non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Organizations must:
- Be registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations
- Operate in the cultural and artistic sector
Eligible Activities
The scheme supports:
- Theatre productions
- Music performances
- Dance productions
- Visual arts activities
- Cultural workshops
- Interactive educational performances
- Creative storytelling
- Multidisciplinary artistic projects
- Original productions for children and young people
- Existing cultural productions adapted for educational audiences
How the Scheme Works (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Develop a Cultural Project
Design a cultural or artistic production suitable for children or students.
Step 2: Align with Educational Goals
Ensure the activity supports National Curriculum outcomes and educational development.
Step 3: Prepare the Proposal
Include:
- Project description
- Educational objectives
- Artistic concept
- Target audience
- Budget
- Delivery plan
Step 4: Submit an Expression of Interest
Submit the application according to the programme requirements.
Step 5: Assessment Process
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Artistic quality
- Educational value
- Innovation
- Audience engagement
- Curriculum relevance
- Feasibility
Step 6: Project Delivery
Deliver the approved cultural activities during the eligible implementation period.
Importance of the Scheme (Why It Matters)
The Culture Pass Grant Scheme helps:
- Improve access to arts and culture for young people
- Support creative education
- Encourage lifelong cultural participation
- Promote innovation in educational experiences
- Strengthen collaboration between cultural and educational sectors
- Develop new audiences for the arts
- Support artists creating work for children and students
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting projects that lack educational value
- Failing to demonstrate curriculum alignment
- Providing an unrealistic budget
- Ignoring the target age group
- Weak explanation of artistic or educational outcomes
- Missing required eligibility documentation
- Proposing activities outside the eligible implementation period
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly explain how the project supports student learning
- Demonstrate strong artistic quality and originality
- Show alignment with National Curriculum outcomes
- Include interactive and engaging learning experiences
- Present a realistic budget and implementation schedule
- Highlight collaboration with educational institutions where appropriate
- Explain the project’s long-term cultural and educational impact
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How much funding is available?
Each producer can receive up to EUR 15,000, calculated at EUR 5 per student.
2. Who can apply?
Individuals aged 18 or older, artistic collectives, and registered cultural NGOs.
3. Who are the target beneficiaries?
Children and students from kindergarten through post-secondary education up to MQF Level 4.
4. What types of projects are eligible?
Cultural and artistic productions, performances, workshops, and creative educational activities designed for young audiences.
5. When must activities take place?
Approved activities must be delivered between the programme launch date and June 2027.
6. What educational themes does the scheme support?
The programme supports literacy, digital literacy, creativity, innovation, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, diversity, cooperative learning, and other cross-curricular learning outcomes.
7. What is the main purpose of the Culture Pass Grant Scheme?
To provide children and students with high-quality cultural experiences that enrich learning, encourage creativity, and strengthen engagement with arts and culture.
Conclusion
The Culture Pass Grant Scheme supports artists, creative practitioners, and cultural organizations in delivering engaging cultural experiences for children and students. By combining artistic excellence with educational value, the programme promotes creativity, cultural participation, curriculum enrichment, and the development of future audiences while strengthening collaboration between the education and cultural sectors.
For more information, visit Arts Council Malta.