3.
Key Transversal Themes for Culture
across the Maltese Islands
This strategy draws on three transversal themes that are common to
all the regions and introduces specific priorities for this region.
n analysing the cultural assets, opportunities and challenges of each of the six regions, which
form this overarching research programme, a set of three shared, or ‘transversal’, themes became
clearly apparent. The themes reflect a shared cultural development reality for the Maltese Islands
as a relatively small nation with an incredibly rich heritage offer and significant capacity, partnership and
investment challenges. The themes are introduced below.
Theme 1: Talent development
The regions of the Maltese Islands are rife with
cultural and creative talent, with people being the
main cultural resource for the nation. For example,
there is real expertise in a range of traditional
cultural forms, including the art and performance
related to carnival, band clubs, and an enormous
range of festivals and events. There are distinctive
cultural memories, rites and rituals, which spark the
popular imagination and mobilise a wide variety of
cultural activities.
Furthermore, each region has a blend of unique
cultural strengths expressed in the skills, activities
and aspirations of the people. However, we are not
yet maximising the full potential of the cultural
talent pool. Too many people find it hard to build
sustainable careers in culture. There are serious
capacity limits for cultural organisations, with many
struggling to make ends meet and grow sustainably.
Emergent communities from different parts of the
world have not yet found the platform to express
their culture and contribute to an increasingly
compelling mix of cultural traditions across
the regions.
This theme is about building capacity, skills and
partnerships within the cultural talent base. Its
intention is to mobilise a cultural workforce where
more people are active making culture – both
professionally and as a key part of their lives. It
seeks to ensure that the cultural sector is open to
all and maximises the ideas, aspirations, energies
and skills of an increasingly diverse population.
It prioritises the development of programmes
and infrastructure that provide the conditions for
talent to flourish. This includes the introduction
of cultural and arts education; the development
of specialist cultural skills, management and
entrepreneurship support; and, the coordination of
cultural hubs, networks and partnership activities
which build visibility, voice and confidence across
the cultural sector.
20
North Regional Cultural Strategy