MEIA launches 2025 advocacy goals for a more ‘transparent, inclusive and genuinely supportive’ sector

Looking at the year ahead, the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) has committed itself to driving reforms, advocating for fair practices, and fostering dialogue and collaboration.

The association highlighted that despite significant progress, “Malta’s creative sector is hindered by fragile systems, bureaucratic obstacles, and inconsistent leadership accountability.” It remarked that these challenges have grown more pronounced in an era of increased artistic output and escalating production costs.

MEIA observed that Malta’s “ongoing reliance on vanity projects and politically driven spending deepens the divide between public and independent creative sectors. The surge in creative output has also heightened demands for public funding, yet available resources have failed to match this rise.”

These challenges, MEIA said, have pushed fair funding distribution and improved accountability to its advocacy for the coming year.

The association acknowledged that despite the challenges, Malta’s creative sector has also achieved significant milestones. This includes the opening of the Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS), the announcement of an increased domestic screen fund, and the establishment of sectoral working groups by Arts Council Malta, which all align with its advocacy efforts.

“Lastly, the strategic shift of the Malta Film Commission under the Ministry for Local Government, Culture, and National Heritage enhances cultural policy integration. Moreover, the private sector has set record-breaking productions and international successes, underscoring their vital role in advancing Malta’s creative ecology,” MEIA added.

Maria Galea, President of MEIA, commented that 2025 must be the turning point where fairness and accountability are non-negotiable. “Our priority is to ensure that the systems governing the sector are transparent, inclusive, and genuinely supportive,” she added.

For the year ahead, it’s key advocacy goals are:

1. Ensuring Accountability – Advocate for improved governance in the Malta Film Commission, emphasising transparency, financial responsibility, and respect for the local creative community.

2. Fighting Nepotism and Political Appointments – Push for depoliticised governance and merit-based leadership across all cultural institutions.

3. Fair Payment Structures – Demand equity in payment systems and reduced bureaucratic hurdles for disbursing funds from public institutions.

4. Creative Space Accessibility – Continue to address the urgent need for affordable and accessible creative spaces to unlock talent and foster innovation.

5. Keep pushing for a National Screen Policy – Implementation for fair and sustainable practices in Malta’s film industry.

6. Transparency and proper consultations – Campaign for equitable and clear guidelines on how funds are distributed by the Malta Tourism Authority and intensify our lobbying for the implementation of these measures and for better dialogue with the Association.

Furthermore, MEIA is strengthening ties with institutions by signing a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to promote effective consultation mechanisms.

In tandem with advocacy efforts, MEIA will be fortifying its organisational capacity through:

• Hosting the first MEIA conference – Bringing local and international collaborators together to address creative industry challenges.

• Publishing performing art rate cards – Establishing standardised remuneration guidelines for the sector.

• Launching Youth Advocacy programmes – Educating and empowering young people in the creative fields.

• Forging MOUs with cultural institutions – Enhancing collaborative consultation frameworks to strengthen ties with Malta’s creative ecosystem.

• Building global partnerships – Developing alliances with international networks to foster global dialogue, collaboration, and elevate Malta’s cultural presence.

• Introducing member support programmes – Providing legal and financial advisory services to empower Malta’s creative professionals.

Despite difficulties, the association expressed optimism for the year ahead. However, it argued that transformation in the creative sector cannot rest on the shoulders of one association.

Real progress requires collective effort from artists, institutions, public entities, and private stakeholders alike, said the organisation.