Organizer Information
The Culture Directorate of Malta, in collaboration with the Malta Society of Arts, Valletta Design Cluster, and the Valletta Cultural Agency, offers the Influss – An Artistic Residence program. This multidisciplinary initiative is dedicated to fostering the intrinsic value of creative work by supporting international artists and cultural practitioners through Residencies, contextual engagement, and professional development. The program emphasizes critical inquiry, immersion in the local Maltese context, and experimentation in creative processes.
Title & Description
Influss Artistic Residence, Malta (2026)
This open call invites individual creative practitioners to participate in a Residency in Malta designed to champion the intrinsic value of artistic and creative processes. The program encourages international artists to immerse themselves in Malta’s cultural and physical landscape, engage with local communities, and experiment with new methodologies in their practice. Guided by the pillars of Inquiry, Immersion, and Experimentation, residents can undertake practice-based work, theoretical research, or a combination of both.
During the residency, artists will:
- Conduct a focused creative inquiry or research project.
- Engage with local heritage sites, communities, and industry professionals.
- Experiment with innovative approaches in their discipline.
- Participate in public engagement activities such as workshops, open studios, or lectures.
- Collaborate with a local peer via the program’s Buddy System for enhanced cultural integration.
Categories
Visual Arts, Architecture, Design, Performing Arts, Music, Literature, Cultural Heritage, Interdisciplinary Arts, Research, Site-specific
Eligibility
- Open to individual artists and cultural practitioners with a minimum of 2 years of experience in their respective fields.
- Applicants must work in Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Design & Fashion Design, Literature, Music, Performing Arts, and/or Visual Arts.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Applicants cannot have benefited from a Government of Malta residency program in the past five years.
- English proficiency is required (reading, writing, speaking).
- Only individual applications accepted; duos or collectives are ineligible.
- Residency funding cannot be used solely to support travel for presenting previously created work.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Maximum grant of €5,000 per artist, covering:
- Return economy-class flight to Malta.
- Accommodation (apartment or self-catering room).
- Artist remuneration for time and work.
- Daily subsistence allowance (€35/day).
- Production/research costs (materials, software, or site fees).
- Remuneration for local collaborators if applicable.
- Engagement with local peers via the Buddy System.
- Opportunities for public engagement and visibility within Malta’s cultural ecosystem.
- Professional development through experimentation, documentation, and knowledge sharing.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Project Proposal detailing inquiry, methodology, and engagement plan.
- Identification Document (valid passport or national ID).
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) (max 3 pages).
- Portfolio / Track Record demonstrating relevant practice or research.
- Optional: visual, textual, or audio-visual supporting materials relevant to the discipline.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 21 April 2026
- Notification of Results: 5 June 2026
- Residency Periods:
- Cohort 1: 31 August – 30 September 2026
- Cohort 2: 15 October – 15 November 2026
Location
Malta
Additional Details
- Residency duration: minimum 3 weeks, maximum 4 weeks.
- Artists must actively engage with the local cultural context through workshops, public sessions, or collaborative projects.
- Mandatory documentation includes a Project Implementation/Research Log, Buddy System engagement, process documentation, and final reporting (narrative and financial).
- Funding disbursed in two tranches: 60% advance, 40% upon completion and approval of final report.
- Applications are evaluated on the quality of creative inquiry, relevance to context, experimentation, and feasibility.
- All public outputs must acknowledge support from the Culture Directorate and partner organisations.