Arts Council Malta (ACM) hosted a regional cultural seminar, aiming to bring together representatives from all six of Malta's regional councils to exchange ideas, address administrative and cultural challenges, and share case studies on successful initiatives within their localities.
The half-day seminar focused on deepening collaboration across regions while promoting the principles of the Regional Cultural Strategies introduced in 2022. Serving as a dedicated networking platform, it invited participants to reflect on progress, exchange tools to combat marginalisation, and encourage broader public participation in cultural policy and practice.
Mary Ann Cauchi, COO for Funding & Strategy at ACM, stated: "This initiative speaks directly to the strategic priorities outlined in Strategy 2025, particularly those concerning community engagement, inclusive governance and regional empowerment. By creating space for reflection and exchange among regional councils, we are supporting the long-term vision of decentralising cultural development and fostering innovation through collaboration.
"The initiative reinforces the role of regional councils as a community of practice that integrates culture and the arts with civil society, while responding to the need for long-term, strategic cultural engagement at regional levels."
The Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alison Zerafa Civelli, said that workshops like these help to design a cultural development of the highest quality. We need to appreciate where we have come, acknowledge what we've done well, learn from what we have done wrong and see where we want to go next. At the same time, we need to share ideas between one region and another to learn together and thus face new challenges. She added that through policies and strategic plans, we are bringing culture closer to the people in our localities.
Discussions explored case studies of regional best practices in cultural development, draw reflections from regions that previously held the Region of Culture title, and feature presentations from upcoming regions preparing to take on the title. The programme also addressed the challenges associated with implementing the Regional Cultural Strategies, consider opportunities for collaboration with the Local Councils' Association, and introduce a new mapping initiative designed to strengthen regional cultural planning.
The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including officials from Arts Council Malta, regional council representatives from across Malta and Gozo, members of the Local Councils' Association, delegates from the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government and other key contributors to regional cultural development.
Photos: Ruben Parnis