2.1.1. The role of Regional and Local Councils
The strategy considers the legal obligation of the
Regional Councils to provide Local Councils with
assistance to address their cultural functions as
outlined in the Local Government Act, namely to:
→Provide for the establishment, upkeep and
maintenance of cultural centres.
→Administer local libraries as part of a national
scheme and ensure that they are as accessible as
possible to all persons.
→Safeguard the local identity and take the
necessary measures to safeguard the local
historical and cultural heritage, traditions
and folklore.
→Extend assistance to artists within their locality to
help them develop their talents.
→Organise cultural activities that promote the
locality in every possible way.
→Promote the concept of lifelong learning with
all residents, particularly with adults and the
elderly, by providing lifelong learning opportunities
within the locality.
As wellbeing, sustainability and decentralisation
become more visible in Malta’s National Cultural
Policy 2021 (Ministry for The National Heritage, The
Arts and Local Government, 2021), the leading role
of Regional and Local Councils in this process will
become even more important.
The NCP 2021 states that the cultural remit of
Regional and Local Councils will be widened to
include improved resource management for local
cultural infrastructure and cultural heritage and
initiatives for cultural innovation and community
engagement (Ministry for The National Heritage, The
Arts and Local Government, 2021). It recognises the
need to implement Regional Cultural Strategies by
introducing coherent administrative procedures for
the management and co-management of cultural
events and educational programmes. These include
lifelong learning programmes which will reflect the
needs of the community, taking into consideration
shifts in demographics and population in different
regions in the last few years. Specifically, in regions
with a high concentration of non-Maltese residents,
the Regional Councils shall design programmes that
are tailor-made for this shift with the objective of
integrating all residents within the regions.
Notwithstanding the distinctive characteristics
of regions, the NCP 2021 also supports measures
for collaboration and networking of regions
in their design of their cultural programmes,
their management of cultural heritage, their
input in the restoration of facades and their
efforts for the sustainable management of the
cultural environment.
By addressing strategic measures that tackle the
specific challenges, but also identify the strengths
and unique selling propositions, of localities within
the region, this strategy builds on national priorities
that include improving the cultural access and
participation of citizens, supporting cultural diversity
and integration and building new partnerships
between public cultural institutions, regions and
cultural NGOs. The policy also reflects on how
culture and the arts can leverage, support and
sustain specific activity in local tourism, education,
economy and health.
The regions can, with a coordinated and ambitious
approach to partnership and investment, be much
enriched by building on their cultural assets,
strengthening partnerships, developing capacity
in knowledge and skills, planning projects over the
long-term, and encouraging new types of culture to
flourish so that tradition and innovation can stand
side by side.
Inspired by the insights and experiences of people
who work tirelessly for the localities and the
strong evidence-base generated by the research,
the Regional Councils are entrusted with enabling
the cultural development in the region using this
strategic framework and other resources that
may be leveraged at both the national and the
European level.
This strategy draws on three transversal themes that
are common to all the regions. It also introduces
priorities for each region.
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Arts Council Malta