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.
www.education.gov.mt/artsfund.htm