International Mobility Challenges & Maltese Artists
A survey looking at the challenges that Malta-based artists face when planning their international mobility.
July - August 2023
This research, carried out by Unfinished Art Space, and supported by On The Move, is aimed at learning what, if any, challenges Malta-based artists face in travelling internationally in order to further their artistic careers.
The resultant information will be shared with local and international stakeholders (such as institutions and researchers), and will hopefully contribute to conversations around cultural policies.
Total number of respondents: 20.
Method of engagement: online survey, shared by mailing list & social media
Time-period open: July 2023
Note: While the number of respondents is relatively small, this survey may still be considered valid and representative of artist experiences in a Maltese context. It may also be considered a starting point for further research to be carried out.
This research was carried out in the context of the Workshop for Cultural Mobility Developers, held in May 2023 by On the Move, in the framework of the Mobility Spaces (MxS) project co-funded by the European Union (Creative Europe 2021 - 2027, Network Strand).
“Being based on a small island, the importance of being in different artistic contexts outside of Malta is invaluable to my development as an artist and practitioner. It provides me with a wider and fresher perspective on my practice and allows me to share and receive knowledge from different people. I feel a sense of nourishment whenever I travel for reasons concerning my artistic practice or interests.”
Main Outcomes
The majority of respondents (80%) identified their main discipline as Visual Arts. Other disciplines included Dance, Performing Arts, Film-making and Design.
35% of respondents have been practising on a professional level for more than 10 years, while 40% have been practising for 3 – 10 years. The remainder (25%) have been practising for less than 3 years.
Half of respondents (50%) make a regular (full- or part-time equivalent) income from their practice. 75% of respondents were female, while 25% were male.
Mobility to Date
Just over half (55%) said that they could not develop their practice without international mobility, while 35% said they could only develop their practice to a certain degree without it. A small amount said that mobility “might be helpful in the future”.
Almost all (95%) of respondents have travelled for their artistic practice in the last five years. Travel length varied; most respondent’s travel lasted from a few days to a few weeks, however others travelled for more than a year.
Destinations included European regions and cities (Western Europe, Balkan Region, UK, Turkey), as well as further afield such as Tunisia, Palestine, Qatar, Dubai, Thailand, India and the US.
The main reasons for travel were; for networking / to meet other artists; for research; to show work; to attend a training course; to collaborate in person; to perform live.
Of those who had travelled, 84% said that it very much helped to further their career or practice, while 16% said that it helped only slightly. All responded that it was a positive experience in general. 89% said that they were planning to travel again in the next two years.
Only one respondent has not travelled in the past five years; the reason given was a lack of information about opportunities.
“My travel enabled an exchange of best practice and different ways of approaching what are sometimes similar challenges. Also allowed for joint research to develop at a later stage.”
Challenges Faced
Work commitments outside of the artistic practice was listed as a significant challenge, as respondents said that they have another job and can’t take time to travel. A small proportion of respondents also said that they could not take time out of their artistic practice to travel.
Financial limitations were also reported as a challenge, with just over 50% saying that it was too financially difficult to travel.
A small number of respondents reported that they could not find any information on suitable opportunities for the travel they need to do.
Finding it difficult to be accepted when applying for opportunities also affected a significant number of respondents.
Of those that responded, language, family commitments, physical or medical limitations, or lack of confidence were listed as not important when it comes to challenges.
“I have missed out on residencies, because funding streams were not aligned with the timings needed for residencies, which are usually announced with quite short notice.”
Suggestions for Easier Access to Mobility
A large proportion of respondents (65%) agreed strongly with the suggestion of an easier and more open application process for opportunities.
The same proportion agreed strongly that increased funding with opportunities and open calls to cover costs would significantly help to alleviate challenges around mobility.
Related to this, a significant number of respondents agreed strongly with the suggestion that local funding should be more easily accessible and more frequent (75%), should cover broader expenses like per diem or childcare (70%), and should cover additional expenses related to physical or other limitations where needed (60%).
Other areas of assistance such as easier access to information about relevant opportunities, an easier and more open application process for opportunities, additional support to young artists in terms of practical issues such as visas, travel connections, personal safety etc, and a more accessible travel visa application process for artists were seen as moderately helpful suggestions.
Respondents also moderately agreed with suggestions of more peer-to-peer support or a mentoring system for exchange of information between artists, and more easily accessible practical information, calls, visas, tax etc.
“For full time practitioners, operational funding is essential otherwise they will never be able to leave their business, not even for a few days.”
Future Plans
Looking forward, respondents plan to travel as far afield as South Korea, West Africa, North Africa, and the US, however most frequently listed is travel to European countries.
The main reasons given for future travel were for networking / to meet other artists; to show work; for research purposes; to collaborate in person; to attend a course / to learn.
“A distinction needs to be made between young emerging artists who may have access to youth funding and older practitioners who may not have access to funding specific to their age group.”
Conclusions
Because of the sector with which most respondents identify, the results of this survey may best correspond to the visual arts sector in Malta.
From the responses given, it seems that most practitioners in Malta have regular access to international mobility, although challenges are faced, in particular in relation to other work commitments and financial limitations.
Suggestions for easier access to mobility included easier and more straightforward application processes, and easier access to funding.
Six Artist Residencies around the Southern Mediterranean
Darb1718 (Egypt)
an immersive cultural experience for artists producing their artistic works while living onsite & specialising in ceramics
Dar Meso (Tunisia)
within a calm environment in the city of Tunis - connecting artists with craftsmen & women to enhance cultural exchange and promote local craftsmanship
Queens Residency (Morocco)
a programme for multidisciplinary artists - particularly with social and critical practices - engaging local communities to reflect on feminist and gender-related topics in a postcolonial context.
Graniti Murales (Sicily)
building connections between artists and the local community through mural-making and experimental multidisciplinary art practice – with an openness to foster meaningful connections.
Cycladic Arts (Greece)
an artist run space enabling artistic creation in a newly renovated Cycladic space - facilitating a dialogue between people from diverse geographic and ethnic backgrounds
LAV Artist Residency (Spain)
proposed as a laboratory for experimental creation, supporting the current artistic sector of international emerging contemporary art
