The Malta Arts Fund should be used to generate cultural activities that could reach more of the population, according to Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera.

Addressing a press conference reviewing last year’s activities of the fund, Dr Herrera said it was essential in cultivating cultural productions.

“The grants offered through this fund can help in the production of more local culture and attract more people to the arts scene,” he said.

A total of 95 projects were partly financed by the Malta Arts Fund last year, amounting to a little over €413,000 in grants. These went to projects, mobility schemes and translations as well as supporting cultural organisations.

Thirty-eight performing arts projects were financed through last year’s fund along with 23 visual arts projects, 27 collaborations and seven literary incentives.

Prominent theatre director Mario Philip Azzopardi said the Malta Arts Fund had proven indispensable in assisting a number of Maltese stage productions.

He said he had received some €20,000 in project funds, which would go towards the development of a number of productions including the recently staged play Jiena Nħobb, Inti Tħobb.

Mr Azzopardi said a number of other productions would bring the tally of Maltese-focused plays up to six by the end of this year. This, he said, would continue with the aim of having staged at least 20 productions by 2018.

“These are not targeted at foreign audiences – they are made by Maltese for Maltese. The idea that Maltese theatre is not attractive is just not true. These plays have sold out,” he said.

Author Immanuel Mifsud also addressed the conference.

He said the fund’s Spreading Words initiative had helped him to secure a Slovenian translation of one of his works.

Asked about the apparent lack of funding for literature-based projects, Dr Herrera said the government was committed to supporting such projects but added that funding may have been diverted to areas earmarked for growth last year. Since then, Dr Herrera said, the government had announced schemes to support literature projects, such as the Francis Ebejer funding scheme.

He highlighted the importance of transparency in the allocation of funds.

He said a recently appointed board had been tasked with investigating the allocation of last year’s grants and it had found no irregularities.

Asked about the reliability of the board, he said it was made up of a number of foreign and local arts practitioners.