Although Malta is not “traditionally noted for its designers”, the Malta Arts Fund helped change many people’s perception, according to Malta Design Week coordinator Justin Schembri.

Thanks to the fund, a person who once nurtured a dream saw it turn into reality

“Private companies seemed much more willing to help out when they knew that the project was being backed by the Malta Arts Fund and was consequently being followed up,” he said.

Created to promote good design and incorporating a number of exhibitions and workshops spread throughout a seven-day period in 2011, the Malta Design Week was just one of 268 art projects allocated funding since 2009.

Since its launch four years ago, the Fund has handed out €1.16 million to a number of arts projects. With a broad spectrum ranging from film, music and dance to literature, theatre and the visual arts, the fund aims to support quality and excellence in the arts.

The majority of the funds were allocated to the performing arts, followed by the visual arts, multidisciplinary and literature.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Culture Minister Mario de Marco said that while European ministers’ cultural budgets were being radically reduced, Malta’s had not been submitted to any cuts. “Thanks to the Malta Arts Fund, a person who once nurtured a dream saw it turn into reality.

“However, this transformation depended most of all on the sheer will, determination and originality of the artists.”

Last November, a new literature strand, Spreading Words, which aims to translate Maltese works into foreign languages, was added to the Arts Fund Programme, bringing the current number of strands to four.

Application deadlines for this strand close on March 1.

The other strands are the Project Support Grant, the Organisation Support Grant and the Mobility Grant. The Project Support Grant is divided into two strands: large and small projects. Projects with requests for funding up to €5,000 qualify as small projects – applications for this strand are open every three months.

The large projects, where funding ranges between €5,000 and €20,000, are allocated on a half-yearly basis.

For further information, visit www.maltaculture.com.