Culture and Health Platform Fund for the Maltese Islands

Deadline: 27-May-25

The Culture and Health Platform Fund for the Maltese Islands is part of a four-year international initiative aimed at supporting emerging European artists working at the intersection of culture, health, care, and the social sectors.

As part of the local platform initiatives, ARC Research & Consultancy, in collaboration with Arts Council Malta (from now onwards referred to as the Funding Entities), are issuing a fund targeting emerging Maltese and Malta-based artists and creative professionals in the intersectoral fields of culture, health, and care.

The scheme is supported in equal amounts by Arts Council Malta through funds allocated by the Ministry for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government and ARC Research & Consultancy through funds allocated by the European Union.

This scheme recognises the potential of the intersection between culture, health, and care to support holistic well-being, disease prevention, and care processes, as well as stronger and healthier communities. Whilst recognising the value of all forms of practices and interventions, this specific scheme is not intended to support arts therapy projects per se.

Focus Areas

• In line with one of ACM’s overarching themes focusing on care, this fund is a tool to further support the cultural and creative sectors by:
  • Nurturing inter-sectoral collaborations at local, national, and international levels to support the intersection between culture, health, and care.
  • Fostering an interest in culture, health, and care as an intersection which supports holistic well-being and prosperous societies.
  • Exploring the positive effects of arts and cultural activities on health and well-being.
  • Supporting the development of artists and creative professionals committed to exploring this field.
  • Facilitating the creation of projects, programmes, and platforms that enable emerging artists to engage with specific communities, healthcare settings, and/or challenging health conditions through their artistic practice.
  • Building and strengthening strategic partnerships, collaborations, and networks, on a national and international level, to enable sustainable opportunities and long-term systematic solutions at the intersection between Culture and Health.
  • Valuing and positioning the diversity of artistic and cultural expression, access, and participation as integral to Malta’s wider cultural and creative ecology.

Categories

• Strand 1: International learning mobility
  • Engage in international shadowing/mentoring opportunities to support development and exchange of knowledge for emerging artists in this area.
  • This strand will enable individuals to express their interest in, and receive support for, international learning mobility, within the Creative Europe countries,1 with an established entity or individual(s) specialising in culture and health practices, projects, and programmes.
  • The host needs to be contacted prior to the application stage, and to sign a letter of intent for submission with the application.
• Strand 2: Project Implementation
  • Propose projects, led by emerging artists in this field, promoting the improvement of the quality of life and cultural access in healthcare or social care settings.
  • This strand will support projects and/or programmes which bring together professionals and organisations across the arts, health, and social sectors that aim at supporting creative projects designed to deliver health and well-being benefits.

Benefits

• Financial support for projects that bridge culture and health
• International mobility and increased visibility
• Trainings and capacity-building initiatives
• Peer support and networking opportunities
• Showcasing events highlighting artists’ work

Funding Information

• Session Budget
  • For Strand 1: EUR 9,000
  • For Strand 2: EUR 27,000
• Maximum Eligible Amount Per Project
  • For Strand 1: EUR 3,000
  • For Strand 2: EUR 9,000

Eligible Costs

• Strand 1: International learning mobility
  • Artistic fees in terms of services related to shadowing or mentorship.
  • Travel (economy class) and standard accommodation of chaperones (this will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
  • Travel (economy class), including but not limited to public transport, air travel, car/vehicle rental.
  • Insurance.
  • Standard accommodation (excluding long-term rental, or part of).
  • Travel VISA.
  • Marketing and communications (not exceeding 10% of total costs, these may include but are not limited to photography and videography).
  • Other fees directly related to project implementation (including but not limited to legal, service providers, participation fees, linguistic fees etc.).
  • Contingency, not exceeding 10% of the total cost.
  • Indirect costs, not exceeding 5% of the total cost.
• Strand 2: Project Implementation
  • Artistic fees;
  • Digitalisation;
  • Documentation costs;
  • Health and safety measures;
  • Hire/purchase of equipment (purchase of equipment will only be considered if deemed necessary to the project);
  • Insurance;
  • Marketing and communications, not exceeding 10% of project total;
  • Other fees directly related to project implementation (including but not limited to: service providers, mentors, legal, participation or enrolment, linguistic fees, surtitling, etc);
  • Printed material;
  • Production costs;
  • Project management fees (including but not limited to: administration, coordination, development);
  • Rental of spaces;
  • Subscriptions to virtual platforms or other digital services, where relevant;
  • Travel (economy class) including, but not limited to, public transport, air travel, car/vehicle rental;
  • Standard accommodation (excluding long-term rental, or part of);
  • Travel VISA;
  • Contingency, not exceeding 10% of project total;
  • Indirect costs, not exceeding 5% of the total cost (examples – servicing: electricity, water, cleaning; telephone/fax/Internet connections; postage and mailing; paper, ink/cartridge, stationery, etc).

Ineligible Costs

• Strand 1: International learning mobility
  • Costs already covered by public cultural organisations, or another public funding programme/scheme managed or co-managed by Arts Council Malta or another public agency, Government department or Ministry.
  • Costs which are already covered through usual operational budgets (for example the space which is owned by the applicant or the partner/supporting organisation/individual).
  • Fees for services provided by public cultural organisations or another public agency, government department or ministry.
  • Funding for the creation or upholding of bursaries, contests, competitions, prizes or scholarships.
  • Reimbursement of salaries or of a part thereof.
  • Retroactive costs.
  • Subsistence, catering, and hospitality

Ineligible Activities

• Activities of an intrinsically self-sustainable nature.
• Activities not related to culture, the arts, and the creative industries.
• Activities which do not integrate culture, the arts, and the creative industries into health, care, and well-being.
• Activities whose objective is fundraising or political propaganda.
• Applications to fund the creation or upholding of contests, competitions, bursaries, prizes, or scholarships.
• Applications submitted after noon of the respective day of deadline.
• Applications submitted by public entities with or without a line vote.
• Costs for traditional activities and festivities.
• Events held on a regular basis, including annual projects, annual festivals, school/annual shows, regular training programmes.
• Incomplete applications.
• Individual modules credited as part of an educational course, or research as part of an established academic programme.
• Initiatives eligible under Festivals Malta, Annual Cultural Activities Scheme, VOPS, National Book Council, Valletta Cultural Agency, Malta Arts Scholarships or any other State-funded programme dedicated to Maltese Arts/Culture.
• Projects that would have already started and/or taken place before the result is notified to applicant(s).
• Projects the duration of which does not entirely fall within the eligible timeframe.
• Training programmes required to renew professional licences or accreditations.
• Applications for platforms which applicants have already attended or participated in.

Eligible Projects

• Participatory art programmes for people experiencing physical and mental illnesses, as well as projects that focus on prevention, in diverse settings.
• Arts in healthcare environments, including projects designed to enhance healthcare environments and support the well-being of staff and patients.
• Productions in healthcare settings: which could include performances, installations, and exhibitions that support general well-being and highlight health-related issues.
• Artist residencies in healthcare or social care settings.
• Practice-based research activity.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be Maltese or Malta-based emerging artists who qualify as one of the following:
  • Creative professionals/individual artists;
  • Entities registered with the Malta Business Registry (including companies, partnerships, foundations, and organisations/associations);
  • Groups, collectives, and consortia;
  • Registered cooperatives;
  • Voluntary organisations enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Applicants who do not qualify under the definition of applicant for this specific scheme.
• Applicants whose profile is not verified, due to the profile being incomplete by reason of not having the below mandatory documents:
  • A copy of your Maltese ID card (including both front and back side) or your Maltese residence permit or your Maltese citizenship certificate or your Maltese passport.
  • A signed statute in the case of a voluntary organisation.
• Beneficiaries who already benefitted from the Culture and Health Platform Fund for the Maltese Islands in previous calls.
• Beneficiaries who have not honoured previous funding commitments.
• Beneficiaries who did not submit or complete at least one final report related to a previous grant funded by Arts Council Malta within the established timeframes.
• In the case of registered entities, entities who have not presented the required annual documentation to the Malta Business Registry.
• In the case of voluntary organisations, voluntary organisations:
  • That are not enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations;
  • That have not presented their updated accounts to the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations;
  • That do not have a registered address in the Maltese Islands.
• Organisations/activities receiving local public funds through established Government line-votes.

For more information, visit Arts Council Malta.