Deadline: 23-Jun-2026
The Arts Support Scheme, managed by Arts Council Malta, is a national funding initiative designed to support artistic creation, cultural production, and community engagement in Malta. It aims to strengthen the country’s cultural and creative sectors by supporting high-quality artistic projects and fostering inclusive participation in the arts.
Programme Objective
The main objective is to develop a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable cultural ecosystem in Malta by:
- Supporting artistic innovation and experimentation
- Encouraging collaboration between artists and cultural organisations
- Enhancing artistic excellence and professional development
- Expanding audience engagement and participation
- Promoting inclusivity, diversity, and intercultural exchange
- Strengthening intergenerational cultural dialogue
- Supporting documentation and preservation of Malta’s artistic heritage
- Improving access to arts and culture for all communities
- Encouraging emerging talent in the creative sector
Focus Areas
The scheme funds a wide range of artistic and cultural activities, including:
- Artistic production and creative projects
- Cultural programming and performances
- Audience engagement and participatory arts initiatives
- Documentation and archival of cultural heritage
- Collective memory and community storytelling projects
- Cultural accessibility and inclusion initiatives
- Digitalisation of artistic works and cultural content
- Cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration
Funding Details
- Total programme budget: €700,000
- Maximum grant per project: €40,000
- Funding coverage: Up to 80% of eligible project costs
- Project duration: Up to 18 months
Eligible Costs
Funding may be used for:
- Artistic and creative fees
- Project management and coordination
- Production and staging costs
- Marketing and communication
- Documentation and archiving
- Travel and accommodation
- Digitalisation activities
- Equipment rental or purchase
- Insurance, health, and safety measures
- Other direct project-related operational expenses
Ineligible Costs
The scheme does not support:
- Retrospective or already completed costs
- Fundraising activities
- Political propaganda
- Competitions and prizes
- Scholarships or bursaries
- Subsistence or living expenses
- Annual festivals
- Academic research projects
- Activities funded by other public schemes
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include:
- Companies registered with the Malta Business Registry
- Creative professionals and individual artists
- Groups and informal collectives
- Registered cooperatives
- Voluntary organisations registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations
Additional eligibility requirements:
- Individuals must be Maltese citizens or hold valid Maltese residence documentation
- Voluntary organisations must be legally registered and compliant with reporting obligations
- Entities must have up-to-date annual submissions and documentation
Ineligible Applicants
Applications will not be accepted from:
- Organisations already funded through government budget votes
- Applicants with unresolved or incomplete previous grant reports
- Entities that failed to fulfil past funding obligations
- Unregistered voluntary organisations
- Organisations without a registered Maltese address
- Applicants with incomplete mandatory documentation
- Individual members submitting duplicate applications for the same project
Why This Programme Matters
This scheme plays a key role in strengthening Malta’s cultural sector by enabling artistic innovation, supporting emerging talent, and ensuring wider public access to culture. It also contributes to preserving Malta’s artistic heritage while promoting diversity, inclusion, and community participation in the arts.
Key Expected Outcomes
The programme aims to achieve:
- Increased artistic production and cultural innovation
- Stronger collaboration across Malta’s creative sector
- Improved access to arts and cultural participation
- Greater preservation and documentation of cultural heritage
- Enhanced diversity and inclusion in artistic practice
- Development of emerging artists and cultural professionals
Conclusion
The Arts Support Scheme under Arts Council Malta provides structured financial support for artistic and cultural development in Malta. By funding diverse creative projects and promoting inclusion, innovation, and heritage preservation, it strengthens the long-term sustainability and vibrancy of Malta’s cultural ecosystem.
For more information, visit Arts Council Malta.
