Maltese Arts Fund launched
A Maltese Arts Fund has been launched with €330,000 to be used this year to improve and widen the cultural experience of audiences and for the professional development of Maltese artists.
The fund was launched by Culture Minister Dolores Cristina and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.
Mr Fenech said that several measures were introduced to assist arts and culture in the last budgets. These included the reduction of VAT on the rental of spaces for artistic activities and on entrance tickets from 18 to five percent.
The government also exempted cultural activities organised by non-profit organisations from VAT and introduced a film fund to assist the local films industry, among other measures.
Ms Cristina said that with such initiatives, the country would be able to offer the public several forms of art while increasing interest in the sector and incentivising everyone to develop artistic creativity.
She said that a document on a national cultural policy was to be launched for consultation in the next few weeks. This, the minister said, was another important step to strengthen the country’s cultural sector and create more synergy between the several cultural forms.
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Raymond Sammut
Aug 8th 2009, 22:24
@ Ludwig Flask
People pay for tickets when they go in, for example. The arts are essential for the morale and well being of every community. One cannot measure real or immediate value solely by whether there is cash flow or not. The arts are an integral part of everyday life, and need to be promoted and supported for long term benefits. The tragic results of neglecting the arts are often realised after it is too late, leading to dysfunctional communities.
Ludwig Flask
Aug 8th 2009, 14:42
Appreciating this little effort, but Dolores Cristina and Tonio Fenech, the government is in dire straits with debts, thus from where are the €330,000 coming from?
Stephen Borg Cardona
Aug 8th 2009, 13:28
When is the Old Palazzo next to Piazzetta in Sliema going to be restored and turned into a Museum of Modern art ?
v.pulis
Aug 8th 2009, 13:28
Some years ago VAT on musical instruments was waived in order to encourage musical talent. What about other forms of art? Paints, brushes, paper and other paraphernalia used in the visual arts cost money too. besides unlike musical instruments which are bought once and last a lifetime, the above mentioned material has to be replaced constantly... Then again perhaps that is why it was not exempt.
Stephen Farrugia
Aug 8th 2009, 12:37
330K euros??!?! Is this a JOKE?!?!?! ....... its not even enough for a property!!! let alone for teachers, and equipment!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously... Investment in arts needs to be IMPROVED...there's 500 students in MCast at the moment just on arts, let alone the ones studying music, and architecture.................
Prosit!! joke around... spare the pennies for the higher cause, and give 4.7Million to businesses who gain PERSONAL profit... e ija, that's taxed on, so good investment!! Invest in Euros , not human potential.......
and they removed VAT from non profit organisations??? Lol .. there's no PROFIT,..what are you gonna tax them on??? is there tax on self fullfilment???? this is new....
Karl Consiglio
Aug 8th 2009, 12:01
Slowly slowly you catch a monkey.