Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government José Herrera today launched a new scheme to financially aid feast associations, in order to make the sector more resilient during challenging times.

Up to €150,000 will be given to these associations in order to safeguard a cornerstone of Maltese culture, Herrera announced.

Among the projects that will qualify for this scheme will be the designing and manufacturing of banners and festoon lights, the designing of artistic decorations which adorn the streets during feasts and the financing of religious statues.

 “Feasts are close to the heart of Maltese citizens,” Herrera said. “We will continue investing in our arts because they are the fibre of our country”.

In this way, the scheme will not only aid feast organisations, but also those working in the cultural sector and the social sector, Herrera said.

Herrera added that Malta’s artistic folklore scene, which takes centre stage during village feasts, will be catered to with the scheme.

This is the second year that feast associations have benefitted from the scheme and the second summer that village feasts have been cancelled due to the pandemic. Thus, feast, cultural and social associations have benefitted from €300,000 thus far to keep their industries going.

Executive Chairman of Arts Council Malta Albert Marshall accompanied Herrera, where he said that some people may think that now is not the right time to launch the scheme, since village feasts are on pause.

Despite this, volunteers are still working hard for feasts and cultural activities, regardless of whether these events culminate or not.

With no fundraisers allowed to take place, the scheme will give voluntary workers the finances they depend on to keep going.

Feast, social and cultural associations are encourage to apply for the scheme online before the scheme closes on 2 July.