Deadline: 21-Oct-2025
The Arts Council Malta is seeking applications for its Artistic Research Sabbatical Grant to engage in artistic research that is practice-based or practice-led and aimed at developing and exploring new ideas, methodologies, materials, and techniques for the purpose of further artistic development.
This grant meets the strategic area objective – Education and Development of Strategy 2025 by investing in research and creativity through the introduction of a sabbatical grant for artists and practitioners. Furthermore, the grant meets several strategic priorities highlighted by the Council in the Strategy 2025 document, in the sense that: Nurture creative potential and support its development by encouraging creatives to engage in practice-based research and investigation; Invest in artistic excellence by encouraging creative risk-taking, experimentation, and active engagement of artists, while identifying talent and supporting its development; Foster artistic collaborations and partnerships to develop the local artistic scene; Expand opportunities for a career in the arts; Invest in 21st century skills. The objectives of this grant are based on those of the Vienna Declaration on Artistic Research and support the broadening of knowledge and understanding of artistic research. Applicants may choose to focus their projects on one or more of the following areas: Exploratory research that adopts innovative and untested approaches in the conception, creation and development of artistic work; Research into digital technologies and artificial intelligence and how they inform contemporary artistic practices; Experimenting with innovative methods of community-led artistic engagement.
The grant is part of the Arts Council Malta funding schemes which aim to invest in exploratory projects that enable creative professionals to investigate aspects related to their artistic practice, explore and test their work, engage with new methods and technologies, research, collaborate with creative professionals and relevant professionals, and further develop their ideas. Applications may be part of the initial phase of a wider project or stand-alone.
Eligible activities falling within the cultural and creative sector include arts such as literature, visual arts, music, performing arts, and interdisciplinary work; creative business services such as design, architecture, cultural tourism, and cultural services; heritage activities including crafts, traditional festivals and celebrations, cultural sites, and antiquities; and media activities such as published and printed material, audiovisual work including film and video production, services of film, television, video games, radio, and online media.
Eligibility for this grant is open to individuals, communities, and public cultural organizations. Individuals must be Maltese citizens or hold a residence permit in Malta, a Maltese citizenship certificate, or a Maltese passport. A community is defined as a group of people who share values, customs, identities, or practices. Public cultural organizations falling under the mandate of Arts Council Malta include Teatru Manoel, Dar il-Mediterranean gyall-Konferenzi, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Fondazzjoni Kreattività, Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Cultural Agency for the City of Valletta, Malta International Contemporary Arts Space, Festivals Malta, and the National Agency for the Performing Arts.
The initiative addresses the financial challenges artists may face when dedicating time solely to artistic research, as this often comes at the cost of income and financial commitments. The Council emphasizes the importance of research in allowing artists to reflect on and renew their practice.
The scheme supports independent creative practitioners who wish to take a year-long sabbatical by providing an income of €20,000, based on agreed outcomes and objectives. The sabbatical is planned as a twelve-month artistic research activity, with participants committing not to engage in full-time work elsewhere, though they may accept occasional or part-time projects. Regular mentorship meetings are part of the programme, and at the end of the sabbatical, beneficiaries present their research and findings through a knowledge-sharing activity.
Applications that are incomplete, submitted after the deadline, or do not meet the specific eligibility criteria will not be processed. Organizations or individuals that have not met previous funding obligations are also excluded. The grant exclusively covers personal remuneration and does not support additional research-related costs.
Applications are evaluated based on the concept, project management, and budget, and are assessed by an appointed Evaluation Board made up of local or international cultural professionals. The application process requires the creation of a profile on the KMA CRM system at least two weeks before the deadline, with final submissions due by noon on 21 October 2025.
For more information, visit Arts Council Malta.