120 Festa Organisations To Receive Total €1.1 Million Investment
The number of festa organisations set to receive funding this year has increased to 120, with a total investment of €1.1 million.
An additional €344,000 in grants from the Malta Council for the Arts will be awarded to 37 voluntary organisations that contribute to Malta’s festa traditions.
These join 83 other associations that have already benefited from €800,000 in funding this year.
The support is provided through the Artistic Heritage Scheme, which is managed by the Malta Council for the Arts and opens twice annually to allow festa organisations to apply for funding according to their specific needs.
Minister for Culture, the Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, announced that the total investment under the scheme for 2025 now exceeds €1.1 million.
The Artistic Heritage Scheme offers support to voluntary organisations, including band clubs, musical societies and fireworks factories, in three main areas of festa life: instrumental music, safety within fireworks factories, and the creation or restoration of semi-permanent festa decorations.
The scheme is intended to strengthen the long-term sustainability of these activities, which form an essential part of Malta’s cultural heritage and are recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Minister Bonnici noted that Maltese festas rely on a wide network of volunteers who manage everything from decorations to musical programmes and fireworks displays, bringing colour and community spirit to public spaces. He emphasised that many groups work throughout the year to plan events, preserving traditions handed down across generations.
Rita Falzon, Director of Funds at the Malta Council for the Arts, stated that the scheme provides tangible support to cultural organisations, enabling them to preserve and develop their artistic practices in a sustainable way.
Funding will cover instrumental music, semi-permanent decorations and fireworks production, including education, safety, training, technology, restoration and professional development initiatives.
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