Artists looking to create an ambitious artistic project with an international partner over the next three years will also get the opportunity to feature in the Valletta 2018 programme after a new fund was launched yesterday.

The fund – called the Multi Annual Support Grant – is the third strand of Arts Council Malta’s Malta Arts Fund and will deploy a total of €220,000 in grants.

For the first edition of the Multi-Annual Support programme, Arts Council Malta is partnering with the Valletta2018 Foundation to support and co-fund the development of projects as part of the Foundation’s 2018 programme.

The Grant aims to support long-term creative collaborative projects involving a minimum of one international partner (priority given to partners from the Mediterranean region). This strand specifically addresses an important goal of Strategy2020 – that of connecting Malta to the international artistic community – as well as the priorities of the Valletta 2018 programme.

Successful projects should be designed in relation to the Valletta 2018 programme, which is currently being developed. Projects should relate to contemporary society in Europe and the Mediterranean Region, whether on a social, civic or political level, and should engage with subject matter relevant to these communities.

“This special edition of the Malta Arts Fund reflects Arts Council Malta’s strategic objective to invest in international collaborations between artists through creative, exciting and challenging work, with the aim of increasing artistic mobility and facilitating co-creation with Mediterranean and European partners,” said Toni Attard, director strategy at Arts Council Malta.

This new strand complements the other two strands of the Malta Arts Fund that invest in creative research and project development.

“Through this partnership, Valletta 2018 is encouraging creatives to look beyond Malta and to collaborate with their international colleagues while participating in the Valletta 2018 programme,” said Margerita Pulé, Valletta 2018 Programme Coordinator.

The Grant is open to individuals and groups/organisations. Priority will be given to those projects targeting multi-disciplinary work; performing arts; digital arts or site-specific works outside Valletta.

Actively engaging audiences through an interactive element will be considered an asset.

An information session on the Malta Arts Fund – Multi-Annual Support Grant will be held on Wednesday 13^th July at 18.30 at Fortress Builders, Valletta. Similar to other public funding programmes administered by Arts Council Malta, the fund is competitive and will be evaluated according to established criteria. Applications will be accepted until 16 September 2016 noon.

Visit www.artscouncilmalta.org for more information.