Budget 2027: one paragraph on arts and culture in an 80-page speech, and no vision for the voluntary sector

Art is a right, an expression of the individual and an integral part of democratic life. This is what Arts Council Malta’s Strategy 2030 states, yet the Government appears to say one thing and believe another.

During a Partit Nazzjonalista press conference addressed by Shadow Minister for the Arts, Culture and National Heritage Justin Schembri, Shadow Minister for the Voluntary Sector Beppe Galea and Spokesperson for the Film Industry Marilena Gauci, the Partit Nazzjonalista representatives criticised Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea for referring to artists as people who ‘jemmnu li huma d-don ta’ Alla lid-dinja’ (believe they are God’s gift to the world).

They said that, across a full 80 pages, the Budget 2027 speech contained just one generic paragraph referring to arts and culture. This shows that we have a Government that says one thing in its presentations and manifestos, but in reality believes something else.

The speakers asked how the public would benefit from the increased funding for PBS in terms of Maltese productions, cultural programmes and investment in Maltese artists, and what steps were being taken to ensure impartiality in national broadcasting. They also questioned how anyone could be assured of the national broadcaster’s impartiality when Reno Bugeja, a presenter on the Labour Party’s station, sits on the editorial board responsible for overseeing impartiality.

Malta’s film industry is rich in talent. Yet it too is absent from the Budget, with the Government announcing no schemes for Maltese artists in this field, while the sound stage promised six years ago remains up in the air.

The speakers said that, although some allocations for the voluntary sector had increased, others remained frozen, meaning that many voluntary organisations would continue to face the same financial difficulties they had experienced in previous years.

They also discussed the reform of the voluntary sector announced by the Government five months ago. To date, however, there are still no details on when it will be implemented or whether it will ease the considerable bureaucracy faced by NGOs.

Finally, the speakers asked whether the impact of increased costs relating to foreign workers on various voluntary organisations had been studied.

They insisted that the Government must ensure that voluntary organisations carrying out invaluable work have fair access to funds used to help those most in need.

11.11.2026