Government committed to protect national heritage

Budget 2021 confirms the government’s commitment to continue creating wealth and to offer a vision of a robust future for our country. This budget has taken into account and is effectively addressing the needs of the country in a situation where everyone is aware that this pandemic has created great challenges and pressures, both social and economic aspects.

Our National Heritage has been allocated its due investment and apart from the increase in the allocations of around €1 million in capital and current votes of Heritage Malta, €3 million will be invested to Improvements at Museums and Historical Sites, including the extensive restoration works being carried out at the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta.

The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, which serves as the regulatory arm related to Cultural Heritage has also been allocated the required investment to continue strengthening its position and introduce effective systems to increase its efficiency in safeguarding and conserving our National Heritage. Additionally, the Directorate for Restoration will continue with its extensive restoration programme, including works being carried out at the Victoria Lines and other fortifications in the Cottonera Area with the collaboration of the Kottonera Foundation.

As a Government we fully understand the impacts of the pandemic on the culture and creative sectors and for the upcoming year we will continue to strongly support the cultural and creative industry to recover and move forward. €31.7 million were allocated to the funding programmes and initiatives of Arts Council Malta, as well as to its public cultural organisations. This means that there has been a 13% increase over the 2020 budget. This substantial budget including the €1 million dedicated for a new cultural aid fund, will be aligned and embrace pricinples that will get the recovery process going.

Furthermore, €3.5 million were allocated for cultural projects targeting Valletta through the Valletta Cultural Agency. We will also continue our investment in the MICAS project and programmes of various other entities including those of Spazju Kreattiv, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, ZfinMalta, Teatru Malta and other organisations. The Ministry will be investing €2 million for a concert hall that will be equipped to address the current demands of the arts and entertainment sector.

Budget 2021 has once again shown that local governments are truly valued by this government, not only the government has maintained its commitment maintain its commitment towards the Local Governments but has increased the direct financing by €2.5 million overall, which represents an increase of more than 5% over 2020. This will continue to help local governments to grow and provide valuable work for our residents and communities.

This year we will be launching an extensive consultation which should lead to the revision of the policy for Local Governments designed to strengthen our communities.

In addition to the aid provided since the beginning of the pandemic, there will also be a special fund of €200,000, in order to continue helping to reduce potential risks where necessary, without reducing the levels of services provided by our councils. Works are also underway on the ICT Strategy in all local councils and the strengthening of the regions, whereby we have issued a scheme to assist Regional Councils to engage professional people specialising in various areas in order to support and assist Local Councils in the implementation of some of their functions.