In the last decade, the Maltese artistic and cultural scene has been growing at a high rate thanks to the overall realisation that being unique can have a positive economic and social effect.
Each year funds have been allocated to artistic and cultural endeavours to promote growth and each year employment in this sector grew substantially. Today, there is a total allocation of €430,000 dedicated to local artists and organisations which draws the local artistic scene closer to its neighbouring EU countries.
The funds are divided to support artists and organisations. Artists seeking support for small scale projects can benefit from €5,000 while those seeking support for large scale projects benefit from €20,000. Artists wishing to extend their knowledge, skills or contacts in the form of artistic activities overseas, can benefit from a grant of €3,000 every two months. Artistic organisations benefit from €20,000 which can be allocated to them each year.
The Kreattiv Project is also another reason for artists to stick to Maltese artistic scene. Kreattiv is a programme which brings artists, students and teachers together to create, collaborate and innovate under one roof. A total of €78,686 was allocated to this project and 18 schools participated with themes varying from visual arts to drama.
A strategy to invest in local talent and attracting foreign talent is the creation of the Malta Arts Scholarship whereby students of any kind of art discipline can get a grant for undergraduate or postgraduate studies up to €5,000. Also, the University of Malta has introduced a new postgraduate degree, the Master in Digital Arts, which will further prepare professionals for the increasingly growing artistic sector.
“Create”, a new scheme to promote growth within the creative industry, assists enterprises by giving tax credits of up to €25,000 for them to lead and innovate creative clusters in areas like Valletta (Strait Street, Biccerija area, and Is-Suq), Birgu (Collacchio area) and Victoria, Gozo (Savina Square, Arch. Saver Cassar Street, and Saint Mary Street). Additional assistance is provided by incurring costs of rent of premises, development and refurbishing.
The future for artists in Malta looks bright, especially if Malta would be nominated as the European Capital of Culture in 2018 which will build a lasting legacy as the Mediterranean creative cultural hub.
Malta Council for Culture and Arts funds:
http://www.maltaculture.com/content.aspx?id=185240
Master of Fine Arts in Digital Arts:
http://www.um.edu.mt/maks/overview/PMFADGAFET1-2011-2-O
European Capital of Culture in 2018:
https://secure2.gov.mt/ECOC/information?l=1
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