Ref No. CFQ2025-010
Festivals Malta is looking for a creative and innovative professional to take on the role of Artistic Director for the below festivals:
– Ritmu Roots Festival
– Malta International Arts Festival
– Malta Jazz Festival
– Dance Festival Malta
– Notte Bianca
– The Three Palaces Festival
The Artistic Director has the overall responsibility for the artistic management of the festival and for the development and implementation of its artistic output. The Artistic Director will collaborate closely with the Festivals Malta CEO and the Festival Manager and will report to the Festivals Malta CEO. The chosen Artistic Director will need to provide artistic direction for a period of three years (2026-2028).
In the case that a New Artistic Director is selected for the Festival, the year 2025 will be dedicated to shadowing the current Artistic Director, offering the selected applicant a comprehensive mentorship and onboarding process. This will ensure a smooth transition and provide the opportunity to align with ongoing strategic and artistic initiatives.
THE FESTIVALS:
Ritmu Roots Festival
Ritmu Roots Festival is an international music festival, showcasing contemporary performances of traditional music which aim to inspire and connect people.
Malta International Arts Festival
A festival which showcases different artforms through music, dance, theatre and visual arts, celebrating creativity and Malta's cultural heritage within unique historic venues.
Malta Jazz Festival
The Malta Jazz Festival features prominent local and international jazz musicians, blending various jazz styles in a stunning setting with the Grand Harbour as their backdrop.
Dance Festival Malta
Dance Festival Malta showcases diverse global dance styles, from classical ballet to contemporary performances, celebrating the art of dance.
Notte Bianca
Notte Bianca lights up Valletta with open museums and public buildings while featuring unique performances, creating a vibrant celebration of arts and culture.
The Three Palaces Festival
The Three Palaces Festival showcases music and art in Malta's historic palaces, combining outstanding performances with the island's cultural legacy.
Role Summary
The Artistic Director shall:
Devise, plan, and supervise the execution of the festival and related activities on behalf of Festivals Malta.
Coordinate with performers and artists to attain the best possible productions and attract considerable audiences, pursuing strategies designed for audience development and engagement, with a particular focus on community involvement and alignment with the "Right to Culture" strategy.
Research, workshop, design, and engage local and international material and talent, following best practices in inclusivity, diversity, and collaborative/shared leadership.
Re-dimension the festival to current needs and programme according to market needs.
Choose the artistic content for the festival.
Focus on the development of local artistic talent.
Work closely with the marketing department in terms of communications, public relations, and social media.
Be in line with Festivals Malta’s policies.
Adhere to public procurement policies.
Adhere to deadlines set by the Agency.
Attend and supervise scheduled rehearsals and performances of the production.
Be required to publicly speak about the festival (including Television, Radio, Podcasts, and Online interviews as needed and instructed by the Festivals Malta Marketing Team).
Devote whatever time may be necessary for the success of the festival.
Respect set budgets and work within the established time frames.
Collaborate with other PCOs and other cultural agencies/entities.
Contribute to mentoring and developing emerging leaders in the arts, embedding a mentorship or shadowing component within the festival’s activities.
Align with Festivals Malta’s strategy to build partnerships with Birgu and Victoria’s European Capital of Culture (ECoC) bids for 2031, incorporating ECoC objectives into programming.
Ensure alignment with national and EU cultural policy goals, balancing artistic vision with community well-being and regional cooperation.
Collaborate with other Festivals Malta festivals and their Artistic Directors/Teams.
Report to Festivals Malta’s CEO.
Perform any other related duties as assigned by the Festivals Malta CEO.
Selection Criteria
Applicants must be able to provide an overall artistic vision and develop the festival to fulfil its mission and vision whilst striving for quality and excellence. Applicants should have a proven track record of their work, be purposeful and motivated, and must possess excellent communication skills. They must demonstrate a commitment to fostering inclusivity, diversity, and experience in collaborative/shared leadership.
Furthermore, interested applicants must articulate how their proposed programming supports the "Right to Culture" strategy and toolkit, developed by Arts Council Malta, (https://artscouncilmalta.gov.mt/pages/guidance-advice/resources/right-to-culture/) and how it will strengthen relationships with audiences and communities, including independent artists, local cultural entities, NGOs and PCOs.
Skills and Experience Required
Candidates must have a proven track record in the following:
Budgeting skills.
Understanding of logistical and production requirements and costs.
Networking with local and international artists and artistic management companies.
Strong communication skills.
Strong organisational skills.
Demonstrate experience in working on high-profile cultural events, productions, and festivals.
Have experience with idea generation and delivery of projects from conception to completion.
Have experience in managing multiple projects.
Have experience in event management.
Have knowledge of the local industry and cultural sector.
Understand and communicate with the official language(s) of Malta.
Have an understanding of integrating strategic priorities such as EU funding and programming priorities, national cultural policies, and community engagement within artistic programming will be considered as an asset.
Preference will be given to professionals with broad experience in the field of the arts, particularly those who have participated in events of international prestige and who are ready to continue developing our festival according to the related strategic plans. Applicants with experience in collaborative/shared leadership models and mentoring will also be prioritised. Accountability and knowledge of working with public funds will be considered an asset.
How to Apply
Interested individuals should send the below documents with their application:
Detailed portfolio highlighting their artistic track record;
A letter expressing their motivation and desire to be an Artistic Director, the strengths they would bring to the position, and the goals they would like to achieve if they are chosen to perform the duties of Artistic Director for this festival;
Filled in Application Form (Annex 1).
Submissions will be received via email to fm.hr@festivals.mt by not later than 21st March 2025 at noon, quoting in the subject the reference number CFQ2025-010 and the submission name ‘Application for Artistic Director for [FESTIVAL]’.
Any questions about the call should be sent to fm.hr@festivals.mt by Monday 17th March 2025 at noon.
Only applications and queries received by email will be accepted.
Acknowledgments will be sent to all applicants and eligible candidates will be interviewed in April 2025.
Annex 1 - APPLICATION FORM
Kindly submit your response to the below questions as part of your application for call with Ref No. CFQ2025-010.
Leadership
*What elements of collaborative leadership do you envision for your role? How do you envision incorporating mentorship and team development?
*How do you envision working with diverse creative communities, including independent artists, local cultural entities, NGOs and PCOs to help nurture and strengthen the professional development of the Maltese Islands' creative and artistic communities?
Collaboration & Partnerships
*How do you envision collaborating with the FM marketing department?
*How do you envision collaborating with other Festivals Malta festivals and their Artistic Directors/Teams? Please give examples of areas and opportunities for collaboration with at least 2 other festivals from the FM festivals portfolio.
*How do you envision building partnerships with Birgu and Victoria’s European Capital of Culture (ECoC) bids for 2031, and incorporating ECoC objectives into programming?
Policy
*How do you envision promoting alignment with national and EU cultural policy goals, (eg. by balancing artistic vision with community well-being and regional cooperation) through your artistic vision and programming?
*How do you envision aligning your programming with the "Right to Culture" toolkit published by Arts Council Malta? Please give examples of areas and opportunities for collaboration with communities, including participatory initiatives and outreach activities.
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