Eight projects have been awarded a total of €150,000 through the 2026 President's Fund for Creativity, supporting creative initiatives aimed at communities and groups that can face barriers to participating in cultural life, Arts Council Malta said in a statement.
The fund is co-managed by the Office of the President of Malta and Arts Council Malta and supports projects involving young people, migrants and refugees, people with disabilities, older people and other communities that are underrepresented in mainstream cultural activity.
The eight selected projects span photography, theatre, music, storytelling, writing and woodcraft, with a common focus on using creative practice to encourage participation, inclusion and wellbeing in communities across Malta and Gozo.
The beneficiaries were recently welcomed to San Anton Palace for a courtesy visit with President Myriam Spiteri Debono, where they discussed their projects and the communities they aim to reach. The President also presented certificates to the beneficiaries.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Spiteri Debono said she was pleased that the President's Award for Creativity was recognising cultural initiatives making a tangible contribution to Maltese society.
She said the selected projects seek to strengthen the social fabric by placing people, citizens and their needs at the centre.
Arts Council Malta Executive Chair Luke Dalli said the fund reflects the principle that the right to culture extends beyond attending cultural activities to include opportunities to participate, create and express oneself.
"What makes these eight projects particularly meaningful is that they are not simply creating something for communities but creating with communities," Dalli said.
He added that the projects would create spaces for people to share experiences, build confidence, strengthen relationships and develop a greater sense of belonging.
The eight beneficiaries are the Malta LGBTIQ+ Rights Movement, with United in Pride; Aditus Foundation, with Jiena Hawn! Ana Honaa!; SOS Malta, with Frame of Mind; Manikata Parish, with Ġarar Maqsuma Jroxxu l-Fwieħa; Outlook Coop, with Sculpting by Texture; Soċjetà Filarmonika Pinto Banda San Sebastjan, with Mużika li Tgħaqqadna; The Maltese National Federation of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco, with Stories Untold: Every Story Matters - Creative Pathways for Youth Voices; and the Port Regional Council, with It-Tielet Spazju.
The projects cover a range of themes and approaches. These include participatory arts and storytelling with LGBTIQ+, migrant and racialised communities; creative work exploring the experiences of Syrian refugee women; therapeutic photography; community theatre; multi-sensory woodcraft for visually impaired participants; inclusive community music; creative storytelling with young people; and intercultural initiatives aimed at strengthening a sense of belonging in local communities.
The President's Fund for Creativity forms part of Arts Council Malta's community exchange funding programme and contributes to the implementation of Strategy 2030.
According to Arts Council Malta, the fund is intended to support collaborative creative processes that strengthen community connections, encourage participation and wellbeing, and broaden the range of experiences and voices represented in Malta's cultural life.