Funding programme for creativity in schools launched

Maltese students will once again have the opportunity to engage with creativity and the arts at school as Arts Council Malta has just launched a fresh call for applications for Kreattiv. The funding programme KREATTIV aims to bring creative practitioners - visual artists, writers, poets, musicians - into schools to work with teachers and students to inspire, learn and create in a collaborative and innovative way. In the three years since the inception of Kreattiv, there have been 54 completed projects – an average of 18 activities per year – with a seven months’ duration. Around 5,400 students have participated from 50 schools. 600+ staff members have contributed and student audiences have hit the 8000+ mark. A total of 94 artists too have participated in the various projects. Managed by Arts Council Malta, in collaboration with the Culture Directorate, a total of €75,000 has been allocated to this year’s programme. A maximum of €5,000 will be awarded to every selected proposal, which amount is to be used over a 12-month period. The fund is competitive and eligible projects will be evaluated by an independent board appointed by Arts Council Malta. Few would argue that creativity is essential for growth. But, increasingly, the arts are also be- coming viable employment options. The figures speak for themselves. According to the Creative Economy Strategy Report 2014, the Culture and Creative Industries directly contribute to around five per cent of GDP and employ more than 10,000 persons. More and more – it becomes clear - art isn’t an extra but an integral part of the educational system. The benefits, too, reach outside the school walls. In some cases, there have been continued artist collaborations between artists and schools. One of the projects, Kirana, even went on to form part of ŻiguŻajg International Arts Festival for Children & Young People 2014 and is booked from France, Italy and the UK for 2015. The programme is not about one-off arts projects, however. It’s about getting children to participate in creative activities, changing their mindset, providing a space which is not resultdriven. Art helps children to make sense of the world, it encourages questioning and debate, comment and thinking. Most of these will stay with children throughout their lives ensuring that when the project is over, a creative legacy will remain. That is why Arts Council Malta and the Ministry for Education have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, further strengthening the ties between art and education. The purpose of the agreement is to clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of each party in relation to the implementation of the Framework for the Strategy for Education in Malta 20142024, and the Mission Statement of the Arts Council Malta. Through this MOU, the Ministry for Education and Employment and the Arts Council Malta will jointly or collaboratively engage in a number of activities including workshops and training seminars, conferences, seminars, presentations, EU-funded projects, job exposure opportunities for the students, curriculum development, learning and assessment outcomes frameworks, and teacher training and development.

The next application deadline for Kreattiv is 29 May; evaluations will be held in June 2015; results will be issued on 1 July. For more info visit maltaculture.com or the Arts Council Malta’s Facebook page