An updated country profile for Malta is now available on the Compendium, thanks to the efforts and great work of our Maltese Compendium experts Karsten Xuereb and Adrian Debattista.
Over the past two years, Malta’s cultural landscape has undergone significant transformation.
Through the launch of long-term strategic plans, key institutional restructuring, and new European partnerships, the cultural and creative sectors continue to mature.
Here are the key cultural policy highlights shaping Malta’s arts and heritage sector:
- Adoption and Implementation of Strategy 2030: Following the conclusion of Strategy 2025 (“Care, Create, Flourish”), Arts Council Malta (ACM) introduced Strategy 2030. It focuses on professionalisation, fair practice, community inclusion, wellbeing, strategic advocacy, public investment, internationalisation, and addressing the challenges and opportunities posed by Artificial Intelligence.
- Government Reconfiguration and Institutional Expansion: Following the June 2026 general election, the cultural ministry was restructured as the Ministry for Arts, Culture and the National Heritage (MACH). Institutional changes included transferring the National Book Council from the education portfolio to MACH, as well as establishing new public entities such as the Fondazzjoni għall-Malta Biennale (making it an independent entity from Heritage Malta) and the De Valette Chamber Orchestra.
- Launch of Key Performing Arts Frameworks: In February 2025, the National Agency for the Performing Arts (NAPA) was publicly launched. Established in 2023, NAPA unifies the administrative and legal operations of Teatru Malta, ŻfinMalta, and KorMalta under a single framework while maintaining their artistic independence through individual artistic directors.
- Strengthening International & Regional Commitments: In 2025, Malta held the Chairm of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and ratified the European Landscape Convention (in force September 2025). In January 2026, Malta acceded to Eurimages, and in March 2026 became an initial signatory to the Council of Europe Convention on the Co-Production of Audiovisual Works in the Form of Series (CETS 230). Regionally, Gozo held the title for the “Region of Culture” programme in 2025 under the theme Common Ground; its capital, Victoria, was selected as European Capital of Culture 2031.
- Implementation of AI & Digital Media Regulations: Under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, Malta designated the Malta Digital Innovation Agency (MDIA) and Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC) as regulatory authorities, while ACM allocated a €100K fund for AI-related cultural policy and research. In 2026, Malta launched a national partnership with OpenAI to offer citizens free one-year access to ChatGPT Plus following an AI literacy course. In media, Legal Notice 175 of 2025 was published to implement the EU European Media Freedom Act.
- Enhanced Sectoral Consultation and Financial Support: In January 2025, ACM established the Sectoral Representative Working Group (SRWG) as a standing consultative board for sector professionals. ACM streamlined its portfolio to 19 competitive funding schemes delivered through roughly 30 calls, confirmed a €2 million Screen Support Scheme, and introduced targeted measures like a €280,000 bank-loan interest subsidy for band clubs in late 2025; further streamlining, on the basis of rolling calls, is being implemented as from end 2026.
- The Charter for the Status of the Artist was launched in 2024 to provide a dynamic frame of reference for any legislation, policy, or initiative which directly or indirectly impacts artists and the creative sector, ensuring that any action is aligned with the ultimate long-term vision of elevating the status of artists in Malta in line with their tangible value to society.
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