Writers Critic Platform 2026

Cultivating a Culture of Dynamic Critical Response

Festivals Malta, in collaboration with Arts Council Malta, is pleased to announce the second edition of the Writers Critic Platform a dynamic initiative designed to stimulate critical dialogue across dance, theatre, music, and performance, while nurturing high-quality arts journalism in the digital sphere. This collaboration offers participants a unique opportunity to engage in a fast-paced, real-world festival environment while refining their critical voice.

The programme is open to both aspiring writers eager to develop their skills and experienced writers wishing to deepen and expand their practice.

About the Platform

Selected participants will take part in an intensive mentorship programme led by international dance journalist, producer, and Director of Aerowaves’ Springback Academy, Oonagh Duckworth.

Through a combination of workshops, discussions, and hands-on writing assignments, participants will develop the tools to produce timely, insightful, and engaging arts criticism for digital publication, while also exploring alternative formats that encourage public discourse around performance.

Sessions will take place each morning during Dance Festival Malta (23–26 July 2026). Participants will also be required to attend performances and post-show discussions between 16:00 and 22:00. Furthermore, participants signing up for this initiative will need to attend and review performances taking place during The Three Palaces Festival (28 October - 1 November 2026).

This opportunity is ideal for writers seeking to:

• Sharpen their critical voice

• Engage deeply with live performance

• Explore the possibilities of digital publishing and arts journalism

  
  

What the Programme Includes

Participants will:

• Attend an online introductory session on 21 July 2026

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

• Attend and critically engage with multiple performances during 2026 editions of Dance Festival Malta & The Three Palaces Festival.

• Participate in group discussions and critical reflection sessions

• Write short reviews for both festivals (approx. 150 words), published via Arts Council Malta, and Festivals Malta.

• Produce a longer reflective opinion piece following the festival

• Attend a mentorship programme during Dance Festival Malta, for which they need to review performances (reviews will not be renumerated). Receive renumeration for reviews written for The Three Palaces Malta thereafter (Attendance and reviews are mandatory for both festivals for participants to be eligible for renumeration).

• Receive a full festival pass granting access to all events for both festivals.

  
  

Who Can Apply

This call is open to:

• Writers based in Malta

• Individuals proficient in written and spoken English (Maltese translations will be arranged for local dissemination)

• Emerging writers with a strong interest in performance and a desire to develop their critical voice

• Established writers looking to further refine their practice

  
  

After the Platform

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

• Local newspapers and cultural publications

• Platforms by Arts Council Malta and Festivals Malta

• Other European writing and critical discourse initiatives

The platform also aims to support ongoing professional development within the field of arts criticism.

How to Apply

Applicants are invited to complete and submit the online application form by Friday 29th May 2026.

• A maximum of 3/4 participants will be selected to ensure focused mentorship and individual attention

• All applications will be reviewed by the festival team

• Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 8th June 2026 

For inspiration, applicants are encouraged to explore reviews and essays from the Springback Academy, a leading European platform for emerging dance writers.

Final Note

Writers Critic Platform,  is more than a festival initiative. It is an evolving space for dialogue, reflection, and growth strengthening the quality, visibility, and reach of critical writing and the performing arts in Malta and beyond.

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Oonagh Duckworth Bio

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.

This initiative is organised in collaboration with Arts Council Malta

Apply Here