Organizer Information
The CREAPOLIS programme is an international capacity-building and exchange initiative developed by b.creative. The organization works across Europe and beyond to support cultural entrepreneurship, civic innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, with a strong focus on how creativity can address systemic social, environmental, and economic challenges. Since 2016, it has developed innovation labs, training programmes, and international exchanges that connect cultural practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders.
The Malta edition is organized in collaboration with Culture Venture, a Malta-based cultural organisation focused on cultural strategy, policy development, and long-term ecosystem design, working alongside its sister production company Udjenza to bridge artistic practice with structural cultural governance. The programme is also supported by ERSTE Foundation, a major European cultural and civil society funder supporting innovation and regional development across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.
Title & Description
CREAPOLIS Malta 2026 – Diversification through Culture
This edition of CREAPOLIS focuses on how culture functions as a multi-layered system where heritage, contemporary practice, community engagement, education, tourism, and economic development intersect. Taking place in Malta from October 5–9, 2026, the programme investigates how cultural value is produced, negotiated, and distributed within complex ecosystems shaped by policy, institutions, and informal community structures.
Rather than emphasizing artistic outputs or exhibitions, the programme is process-oriented. Participants will examine how decisions in cultural governance translate into real-world outcomes, particularly in contexts where institutional, civic, and economic systems are tightly interconnected. Malta serves as a living case study due to its compact geography and highly visible cultural infrastructure, where structural dynamics can be observed in real time.
Participants will engage in collaborative learning to understand diversification strategies across cultural sectors, explore hybrid governance models, and analyze how culture contributes to place-based development, tourism economies, and identity formation. The programme also addresses adaptive cultural strategies in resource-constrained environments and the role of collaboration between public institutions, civil society, and creative practitioners.
Categories
- Cultural Policy & Cultural Governance
- Social Practice / Civic Engagement
- Cultural Entrepreneurship
- Education & Research
- Community Development
- Innovation / Interdisciplinary Practice
- Public Sector / Creative Policy Work
Eligibility
The call is open exclusively to Ukrainian professionals currently based in Ukraine who are actively engaged in cultural or civic development. Eligible profiles include:
- Civil servants and local policymakers
- Educators, researchers, and social innovators
- Cultural and creative entrepreneurs
- Community organisers and local development practitioners
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Relevant professional experience in culture, education, innovation, or civic development
- Clear motivation for participation
- A commitment to applying insights gained from the programme within their local Ukrainian context
The programme particularly values participants working at the intersection of culture and systemic or community-level transformation.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected participants will receive a fully funded experience, including:
- Full coverage of travel costs
- Accommodation in Malta
- All programme-related expenses covered
Additional benefits include:
- A one-week immersive, hands-on learning experience
- Direct exchange with European peers and local Maltese experts
- Collaborative workshops and applied methodologies focused on cultural systems
- Access to a wider European professional network for future cooperation
- Knowledge transfer and strategic insights relevant to cultural recovery and development contexts, particularly for Ukraine
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit:
- Personal and professional information
- CV outlining relevant experience
- Description of current professional work
- Motivation statement explaining interest in CREAPOLIS and expected impact on local practice in Ukraine
Additional supporting materials may strengthen the application, particularly evidence of engagement in cultural, civic, or community-based initiatives.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 4 June 2026
- Programme Dates: October 5–9, 2026
- Duration: 5-day intensive programme in Malta
- Notification of Selection: Not specified in the source (to be announced by organisers)
Location
Malta
Additional Details
The CREAPOLIS Malta edition is designed as a systemic learning environment rather than a traditional residency or exhibition programme. Its focus is on structural understanding of cultural ecosystems and applied knowledge exchange between professionals working in different governance, civic, and cultural contexts.
The programme emphasizes interdisciplinary dialogue between public institutions, civil society actors, and independent cultural practitioners. Participants are expected to engage in collaborative reflection on how cultural systems function under economic, political, and social constraints.
The initiative also aims to generate long-term professional connections across Europe, with a particular emphasis on supporting Ukraine’s cultural recovery and resilience through knowledge exchange and applied methodologies.