OPEN CALL: Writers Critic – Dance Writing Platform 2025 - CLOSED

Photo by Elisa Von Brockdorff

Cultivating a Culture of Dynamic Critical Response

Festivals Malta in collaboration with Arts Council Malta is proud to launch a pilot project for a Writers Critic platform - a new praxis platform designed to stimulate critical dialogue around dance, theatre, music, and performance, while developing and promoting high-quality arts journalism in the digital space.

As part of its pilot edition, we are excited to introduce Malta’s first writing academy dedicated to dance writing and the development and practice of audience engagement initiatives. In a real-world, fast-paced setting during Dance Festival Malta 2025 (24–27 July), the offer is open to aspiring arts writers eager to develop these skills as well as to experienced writers wanting to continue honing their craft.

About the Platform

Selected participants will take part in an intensive mentorship experience led by international dance journalist/producer and director of Aerowave’s Springback Academy Oonagh Duckworth. Through workshops, talks, and hands-on writing tasks, participants will gain the skills and confidence to produce compelling, timely, and thoughtful dance criticism for online publication and delve into other formats designed to encourage discourse around dance.  These will take place in the mornings of the festival (24th till 27th July 2025), whilst between 4pm and 10pm participants will be required to attend performances including the post-performance talks.

This opportunity is ideal for writers seeking to sharpen their voice, engage critically with performance, and explore the potential of digital publishing.

What Writers Critic – Dance Writing Platform 2025 Includes:

We are looking for both early-career writers and seasoned writers with an interest in, or some experience with, writing about dance and performance. Participants will:

• Attend an online introductory session on 21st July 2025

• Receive mentorship from Oonagh Duckworth (The Guardian, Elle, Evening Standard, Agenda, Flanders Today)

•  Watch and review multiple performances during Dance Festival Malta 2025

• Engage in collective performance analysis with the aim of stimulating and sharing new perspectives.

• Write short daily reviews (approx. 150 words), published via Arts Council Malta and Festivals Malta platforms

• Produce a longer reflective opinion piece in the week after the festival

• Access all Dance Festival Malta events with a full festival pass

  
  

Who Can Apply

This opportunity is open to:

• Writers based in Malta

• Individuals proficient in written and spoken English (first language not required); translations in Maltese will be applied for local publications

• Writers who are not yet established in the field of dance journalism but show curiosity and commitment to developing their voice

• Established writers to continue honing their craft

  
  

After the Platform

Participants will be encouraged to continue their writing practice and may be invited to contribute to:

• Local newspapers and cultural magazines

• Arts Council Malta and Festivals Malta publications

• Other European writing initiatives

• Encourage further professional development opportunities in this field.

  
  

How to Apply

Complete and submit the online application form by Friday 4th July 2025. All applications will be reviewed by the festival team. The platform will be accepting 3 to 4 participants so that individual attention can be ensured.

Successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance or otherwise by 9th July 2025.

For inspiration, we encourage applicants to browse reviews and essays from the Springback Academy, a leading platform for emerging dance writers.

Writers Critic - Dance Writing Platform is more than a festival project. It is a platform for ongoing conversation and development—designed to strengthen the quality, visibility, and reach of dance and dance writing and all the performing arts in Malta and beyond.

Good luck!

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Oonagh Duckworth Bio

Photos ©Gerdi Willems

British born, brought up in London, Oonagh has spent her adult life living in Paris and Brussels where she is still based. She has been a professional dancer, cultural journalist and producer/programmer since the eighties. As a producer she has worked with independent dance companies, often from Eastern Europe, and as a programmer, with established institutions such as The Pompidou Centre in Paris, The Place Theatre in London and Les Brigittines in Brussels. She currently produces projects from her own organization including the precursor of collective dance initiatives, the Bal Moderne.  

As a journalist, she has contributed to The Guardian, Elle Magazine, The Evening Standard, City Limits and Time Out as well as the Belgian, English language publications Agenda, The Bulletin and Flanders Today. She is a frequent final editor of English texts written by Belgian dance organisations (Rosas/PARTS) edited the final version of Jeroen Peeters’ book on Meg Stuart ‘Are we here yet?’ and a soon to be published new book by choreographer Alexander Vantournhout ‘Curicussing’.  More recently she has directed her journalistic and interviewing skills to deepening audience appreciation of contemporary dance through the hosting of workshops, post-performance meetings (notably for Les Brigittines in Brussels) and the development of diverse mediation formats. She is director of Springback Academy and contributor to Pzazz, a Belgian online platform that publishes cultural reviews daily.

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