Arts Council Malta offered artists an opportunity for professional development with a talk and a series of masterclasses led by the renowned English painter James Gillick.
A three-day initiative held in Valletta entitled The Artist's Journey: What it Really Takes to Become a Professional Artist gave artists and professionals in the cultural sector the opportunity to discuss one aspect of artistic work that does not always receive the same level of attention: what one needs, beyond the artistic work itself, to build a sustainable professional career.
First up in the programme was a public talk at the Malta Society of Arts, where Gillick shared his experience working as a professional artist for almost three decades. He spoke about the realities, responsibilities and satisfaction that a career in the arts brings. The talk was followed by a number of intensive masterclasses at the Valletta Design Cluster, during which participants discussed themes related to artistic practice, perseverance and professional development.
The sessions explored what it means to work professionally in the creative field, how to develop a career outside the studio, and how artists can adapt to a sector that is constantly changing as a result of developments in galleries, markets and technology. Gillick drew on his own experience and also shared practical lessons about the difficulties, decisions and turning points when it comes to building an artistic practice that can be sustainable long-term.
Dr Luke Dalli, Executive Chair of Arts Council Malta, said that "Professional development is an essential part of strengthening our creative ecosystem. For artists to be able to build meaningful and sustainable careers, talent and artistic practice also need to be supported by the knowledge, skills and professional understanding required to navigate a constantly evolving sector.
"Having an artist with such international experience as James Gillick does here in Malta offers our artistic community an important opportunity to explore different perspectives, experiences, and approaches to professional practice. Initiatives such as The Artist's Journey encourage artists to reflect not only on their creative work, but also on the decisions, challenges, and opportunities that shape an artistic career over time.
"At Arts Council Malta, we remain committed to creating opportunities that support artists at different stages of their professional journey and that contribute to a stronger, more resilient and more sustainable cultural sector. This programme is another step towards ensuring that professional development remains an integral part of our investment in Malta's artistic community."
Nikki Petroni, Head of Strategy at Arts Council Malta, said that the initiative reflects one of the key principles of the Council's 2030 Strategy: that artistic and professional development should go hand in hand.
"Artists need space in which to develop their practice, but they also need the professional knowledge, skills and confidence to build a sustainable career around it. The 2030 Strategy recognises that these two aspects are closely intertwined. For this reason, supporting artistic excellence also means creating opportunities for practitioners to gain a better understanding of the realities of professional work, to strengthen their skills and be better placed to decide about their career direction.
"The programme with James Gillick gives these principles a concrete shape. It creates a space where artists can discuss questions that go beyond creating the artwork itself: how to build a career, how to tackle professional challenges and what it means to keep sustaining one's practice over time. This is an important part of our broader commitment to professional development and to strengthening the conditions that allow artists to grow, work and continue developing their practice."
Professional development is one of the three pillars of Arts Council Malta's 2030 Strategy, alongside cultural rights and internationalisation. The strategy places particular emphasis on continuous skills development, fairer and more sustainable careers, and stronger support structures for practitioners at different stages of their careers.
Through this and other initiatives, Arts Council Malta is continuing to strengthen public investment in the arts, including by creating opportunities to help those working in the sector develop their knowledge, skills and professional capacity.
Gillick is an English figurative painter who specialises in still life, photography, equestrian painting and historical restorations. He works from his studio in Lincolnshire and produces his own painting materials using traditional techniques. He also mentors various artists from the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States on both their artistic practice and professional aspects tied to career development.