Creativity has long been treated as a colourful accessory to Malta's economic model. sometimes celebrated, sometimes forgotten. Yet, creativity in all its forms and facets, is far more than spectacle or entertainment. It is a fundamental motor that must be empowered and placed at the heart of a forward-looking economic vision.
Malta stands at a very important juncture, where our creative economy can either remain a subsidised afterthought or become a fully-fledged economic force.
Creativity and economic activity can no longer be understood as separate worlds. If Malta wants a sustainable, competitive creative sector, it must develop a creative economy built on structure, strategy and measurable growth. That means moving beyond sporadic injections of funding and adopting a coherent model that treats cultural identity, our art, film, design, fashion, music, media, content creation and the wider cultural spectrum as assets capable of generating meaningful economic value.
That is why, it is important to ask whether the country's current expenditure in the sector is being deployed sustainably. While I naturally welcome the increased allocations, we must be careful, as investment without a clear plan for return, is no investment at all, and risks becoming a cycle of spending for its own sake.
A real creative economy requires transparent objectives, long-term planning and a willingness to measure success not only through artistic output but through job creation, exports and the strengthening of Malta's international presence.
This shift must start with solid, dependable governance which thus far is missing. Unfortunately, key institutions such as Heritage Malta still operates without a published strategic document which outlines the agency's plans. Sadly, Parliament has not been presented with a clear roadmap for museum development, heritage site management or sector-wide economic growth, leaving the country in the dark as to how the Malta's most cherished sites and repositories of our national identity are being run.
Without this, we cannot realistically assess whether funds are being used effectively or whether Malta is cultivating a cultural ecosystem capable of standing on its own two feet.
The Nationalist Party's is advocating a complete structural rethink of the ecosystem, which outlines a model grounded in transparency, consultation and equal partnership with the sector. Rather than a top-down approach, policies will be shaped directly with artists, NGOs, educators and creative professionals. The goal is a creative economy where those who create are not merely recipients of sporadic funding but active contributors to, and beneficiaries of, sustainable growth.
Central to this vision is the development of dedicated infrastructure that elevates Malta's creative potential, including a state-of-the-art multipurpose concert hall that would finally give the National Philharmonic Orchestra a permanent, modern home. Our creatives would also find a new home in a creative hub built to international standards, offering training spaces, production rooms and the kind of facilities that enable Maltese creators to move beyond local limits.
Our vision is built on a solid foundation that starts in education. Artistic disciplines must be granted parity with the sciences, both in respect and in resources. Students who choose to pursue artistic or cultural degrees should receive direct support, including targeted grants and tax incentives. This is essential if Malta is to cultivate the next generation of filmmakers, designers, musicians and cultural professionals who will drive the ecosystem forward.
Another key pillar revolves around fair employment. That is why it is crucial to introduce a Work Regulation Order for creative workers, ensuring that those in the sector enjoy proper protection, clear rights and the stability needed to build a sustainable career. This responds directly to the reality on the ground, where our artists must rely on limited funding calls or unpredictable private sponsorship just to launch basic projects, often without sufficient resources to cover even half their costs.
Underlying all these measures is a broader philosophy, that culture and creativity should be tied to quality, sustainability and long-term vision, not the pursuit of quantity or short-term visibility. Development and heritage must complement one another rather than compete. Planning should empower future generations, not leave them with the consequences of disjointed decisions or missed opportunities.
Julie Zahra is a Nationalist MP
This is the time for cultural recalibration. We deserve an economy where creativity is not only encouraged but embedded, and where Malta's identity becomes a driver of prosperity rather than a passive symbol.
A sound and serious cultural policy, when approached with clarity and purpose, can serve both the soul and the balance sheet, expressing the country's spirit while contributing directly to its economy.