Malta/ 7. Public institutions in cultural infrastructure  

7.1 Cultural infrastructure: tendencies & strategies

The government is promoting the notion of autonomy through the creation of a number of state-funded foundations and other structures (e.g. Heritage Malta, the Foundation for the Centre for Creativity, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, etc.). These bodies are given the power to initiate new partnerships with the private sector without the need to refer to bureaucratic practice, which has often proved stifling and frustrating. However, the Ministry for Tourism and Culture often takes steps to ensure the effectiveness of the arms-length policy.

In recent years, the organisation of certain events developed by the Ministry for Tourism and Culture and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts has been outsourced to private companies. The Malta International Jazz Festival was outsourced to NNG promotions, whereas the MTV concert in 2007 was organised by G7 promotions. The Ministry has also partially funded other mass popular music events organised by the same and other event organisers.

The role of National Coordinating Body for the 2008 European Year for Intercultural Dialogue has been delegated to St. James Cavalier. 

The effectiveness of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts as an autonomous organisation for the development of the arts in relation to its role as events organiser still has to be determined.

Governance of cultural infrastructure is a major policy concern and prioritised in the cultural policy. In order to facilitate better coordination and encourage collaboration, a National Theatres Board was set up by the Parliamentary Secretary in 2010. This board of boards brings the chairpersons of the 5 national public cultural organisations around the same discussion table (see chapter 2.1 on main features of the current cultural policy model)

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