Deadline Date: April 07, 2026
The Culture and Health Fund Platform for the Maltese Islands is a four-year initiative supporting emerging artists working at the intersection of culture, health, care, and social sectors in Malta.
The fund aims to foster intersectoral collaborations at local and national levels to strengthen the intersection between culture, health, and care; cultivate interest in culture, health, and care as a field that supports holistic well-being and prosperous societies; explore the positive effects of arts and cultural activities on health and well-being; support the professional development of artists and creative practitioners engaged in this field; facilitate the creation of projects and platforms that connect emerging artists with specific communities, healthcare contexts, and challenging health conditions; build and strengthen strategic partnerships and networks nationally and internationally to ensure sustainable and long-term solutions; value and position diverse artistic and cultural expression and access as integral to Malta’s cultural ecology; and recognise the role of culture, health, and care in promoting holistic well-being, disease prevention, healing processes, and healthier communities, with priority given to artist-led initiatives.
The platform forms part of the wider CultureUHealth initiative co-funded by the European Union, Europe for Cultural Action, and 14 European partner organisations, with ARC Research & Consultancy serving as the Maltese partner. The local funding scheme is supported equally by the Arts Council Malta through funds allocated by the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, and ARC Research & Consultancy through European Union funds.
The scheme is divided into two branches. Branch 1 focuses on international learning mobility and offers emerging artists the opportunity to participate in pre-defined shadowing and mentoring experiences abroad. Artists may choose from three mobility options taking place in September 2026. These include participation in the Culture and Health Forum in Vienna, Austria, a conference organised by members of the Arts for Health Austria platform that provides networking, exchanges, training, and presentations for practitioners working at the intersection of arts and health. Applicants may also opt for a five-day peer-learning shadowing experience in Finland with musician and educator Saaramaija Żórawski, whose work integrates participatory music practices in healthcare settings including cancer centres and nursing homes. A third option offers a three-day learning visit in Helsingborg, Sweden, with artists Rita Winde and Joanna Thede, focusing on participatory art practices in care contexts, including workshops in nursing homes and visits to regional art institutions.
Branch 1 has a total budget of EUR 9,000, with a maximum of EUR 3,000 available per applicant. Participants are required to contact the host organisation or artist in advance and obtain a letter of intent confirming their participation.
Branch 2 supports project implementation within Malta and provides emerging artists with the opportunity to propose artist-led projects aimed at improving quality of life and cultural access in healthcare or social care contexts. Supported initiatives may include participatory art programmes for individuals experiencing physical or mental illness, preventive projects, artistic productions in healthcare environments, residencies in healthcare or social care settings, and practice-based research activities. Projects may be autonomous, part of a wider body of work, or consist of a series of activities within a programme.
Branch 2 has a total funding allocation of EUR 27,000, with a maximum of EUR 9,000 per project. Applicants must secure a healthcare or social care partner prior to submission and provide a signed letter of intent from the partnering organisation. Cultural entities cannot serve as the required partner.
Eligible applicants include emerging Maltese or Malta-based artists who qualify as creative professionals or individual artists, as well as entities registered with the Malta Business Registry, groups, collectives, consortia, registered cooperatives, and voluntary organisations enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations. Applicants are encouraged to follow the guidance provided in the Right to Culture – Resource Pack, particularly in relation to community engagement and rights-based approaches, and to consider the Artist Status Charter to ensure fair and ethical working conditions within their projects.
For more information, visit Arts Council Malta.
