Specialised schools in the non-formal state and independent sectors included in the 2022 study commissioned by Arts Council Malta (ACM) all offer a variety of well-maintained rooms for specific uses, resources and courses to their students. Problems associated with budgetary requirements were not very much in evidence, though one of the state non-formal schools reported problems with IT equipment for staff while a manager in a private school referred to a lack of state support. In contrast with schools in compulsory education, facilities for dance students in the non-formal sector are abundant and complement the variety of dance courses available for students.
Already the first national cultural policy (NCP2011) notes that in parallel to formal education, both government and the private sector provided a range of other educational services like foundation courses in the arts.* At the time, the policy underlined the fact that advancement in the various disciplines depended on ‘the individual institutions and on the character of the individual disciplines’ and that there was ‘no coordinated approach to assisting students in synchronising their academic and artistic development’, while ‘[f]ormal educational services in the practice-based arts range from the sporadic to the non-existent.’
Band clubs in local communities contribute significantly to the field of non-formal music education. Its value is addressed in the national cultural policy of 2021 (NCP2021), while ACM regularly launches funds focusing on strengthening the work carried out by band clubs.
Artivisti is a collaborative programme between Arts Council Malta and Aġenzija Żgħażagħ that supports young creatives (typically aged 18–25) through an extended mentorship process combining artistic practice with civic engagement. It provides participants with guidance, skills development, and opportunities to create socially engaged artistic projects, encouraging them to use art as a tool for critical thinking, active citizenship, and community impact, while fostering non-formal learning and creative collaboration.
Apprenticeship Scheme is a funding initiative by Arts Council Malta aimed at strengthening professional development within the cultural and creative sectors through structured, work-based learning. It supports both organisations hosting apprentices and creative practitioners engaging in apprenticeships, with a focus on mentoring, skills transfer, and the enhancement of technical and vocational competencies, thereby contributing to the long-term professionalisation and sustainability of the sector.
There is a fund for musical tuition for young people in band clubs, managed by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, the national youth agency, within the Ministry for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Recreation, Sport and Voluntary Organisations, with the collaboration of the Għaqda Każini tal-Banda (association of band clubs). These clubs offer music lessons and loan musical instruments to children in various towns and villages. Recent research notes that there are deep and strong links between local band clubs and primary schools, with scope to strengthen them further. They compare well as inclusive entities dedicated to the training of young musicians.
However, the number of students in local band clubs has been decreasing when compared to the relatively large numbers that existed in the post-Second World War period. At the time of the National Statistics Office (NSO) Band Club Participation Study (2014), there were slightly more than 2,000 students in the 86 band clubs across Malta and Gozo. By 2017 there were slightly less than 1,500, with roughly 2 males to 1 female.
In Malta, there are various options for students looking for music education in non-formal settings. The best-known school is the Malta School of Music, which offers music programmes and opportunities for individual learners and aims to help students achieve high standards in playing proficiency, performance, creativity, and musicianship. The school was established in 1975 and employs established musicians as teachers. Each year The school accepts around 200 new students annually and also offers external students the possibility of forming part of the school’s Children Choir or Community Choir. The school is part of the Mikiel Anton Vassalli College (MAVC) and forms part of the Visual and Performing Arts Schools under the Directorate for Research, Lifelong Learning and Innovation, offering courses for beginners up to advanced level.
Another state-owned institution is the Villabianca Centre for Music and the Arts. It offers music lessons and music therapy to children and young people with disabilities. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Malta Trust Foundation and the MAVC Malta School of Music within the Education Ministry to address this need. The two sides cooperate on initiatives to support children who lack access to music and the arts and engage local musicians and international music therapists.
* *Malta Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, the Environment and Culture. 2011. National Cultural Policy 2011.
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