Edition: Malta 2026

Dates: October 5th – 9th, 2026

Location: Malta

Working Language: English

Deadline to Apply: June 4th 5pm CEST

The Creapolis Malta edition explores diversification through culture within a dense and interconnected cultural ecosystem. In Malta, culture operates simultaneously as heritage, contemporary practice, community expression, public service, and economic activity. These layers coexist in close proximity, creating hybrid governance models and overlapping institutional, civic, and artistic roles. Rather than presenting culture as a standalone creative field, this edition investigates how cultural value is produced, negotiated, and redistributed across institutions, public space, tourism, education, and community networks. The programme focuses on processes, decision-making structures, and systemic dynamics — not on showcasing isolated success stories.

Malta’s compact scale makes structural relationships highly visible. Policy decisions translate quickly into lived cultural realities, offering participants a working environment to examine how cultural ecosystems operate under civic, economic, and geopolitical pressure.

What Participants Can Expect

• A one-week, immersive, hands-on experience in Matera
• Practical tools and collaborative methodologies
• Exchange with local experts and European peers
• Exchange with other Ukrainian professionals coming from diverse backgrounds and experiences
• Inspiration for Ukraine’s recovery and future
• Access to a European network for continued cooperation

All travel, accommodation, and programme costs are covered.

We welcome applications from Ukrainian professionals, currently based in Ukraine, and engaged in community and civic development through culture, education, innovation, or entrepreneurship, including:

• Civil servants and local policymakers
• Educators, researchers, and social innovators
• Cultural and creative entrepreneurs
• Community organisers and local development actors

Applicants should demonstrate a clear motivation, relevant experience, and a commitment to applying insights from Creapolis to their local Ukrainian context.

Tell us about your background, your current work, and why you wish to take part in CREAPOLIS.

Matera, located in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, is a medium-sized city that has successfully mobilised creativity and innovation as drivers of local development. Despite its geographic and economic peripherality, Matera has redefined its trajectory through strong community engagement, cultural entrepreneurship, and international collaboration — notably catalysed by its experience as European Capital of Culture in 2019.

This edition is organized in collaboration with Culture Venture, a Malta-based cultural organisation working at the intersection of cultural strategy, policy development, and international cooperation. Its work focuses on how cultural ecosystems are designed, governed, and sustained over time, with particular attention to capacity-building, structural development, and long-term impact. Culture Venture operates alongside its sister company, Udjenza, an arts production organisation experienced in developing and touring artistic work locally and internationally. While Udjenza is rooted in artistic creation, Culture Venture extends this practice into strategic and systemic cultural development. Together, the two organisations form a complementary model connecting artistic practice with governance, policy thinking, and international collaboration.

ERSTE Foundation creates social, economic, and cultural infrastructure and innovation for a changing Europe. As the core shareholder of Erste Group, it secures the independent future of one of the largest financial services providers in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. The foundation empowers initiatives for change and contributes to civil society development and regional progress.

b.creative is a Brussels-based international network that supports creative entrepreneurship as a catalyst for inclusive, sustainable development and societal resilience. It promotes international cooperation through capacity building, peer learning, and the exchange of best practices. Since 2016, b.creative has organized global events and innovation challenges addressing social issues such as poverty, climate change, and social cohesion.