The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) is proud to present Culture at Work, a first-of-its-kind unconference exploring how culture operates as both a profession and a driver of social transformation.

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Taking place from 19 to 21 November 2025 across multiple venues in Malta, with the main conference held at Teatru Salesjan, Culture at Work will bring together artists, policymakers, researchers, cultural practitioners, educators, and communities from Malta and beyond to examine the value, impact, and future of cultural work.

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About The Unconference

Culture at Work is designed as a living laboratory for exchange, collaboration, and critical reflection. Over three days, participants from the cultural and creative sectors, and beyond, will engage through keynotes, workshops, and panels, exploring how culture shapes economies, communities, and identities.

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The unconference will feature over 45 local and international speakers representing diverse areas of the cultural and creative sector. Participants include artists, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe and beyond, among them voices from Culture Action Europe, Iceland Film Commission, Netflix Film Director, IETM, EIT Culture & Creativity, Futurecity, and MOMENTUM Berlin, who will join leading Maltese practitioners such as tenor Joseph Calleja, designer Jonathan Mizzi and more to exchange ideas and perspectives. Together, they will explore how creativity can drive social transformation, strengthen cultural ecosystems, and inspire new forms of collaboration.

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The Programme Structure

Day 1 – Registration + Understanding Creativity

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Opening with an inspirational keynote and followed by a discussion, “Why Creativity Matters Now More Than Ever,” the first day frames creativity as an integral part of our lives. Hosted at MICAS, it brings participants into dialogue around creativity as a social and civic resource, a means of resilience, and a framework for rethinking how value is produced and shared in contemporary life.

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Day 2 – Inside The Cultural Ecosystem

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The second day disperses across multiple independent spaces, mapping Malta’s creative landscape through lived practice. It explores well-being, design, collaboration, and equity—from artists’ working conditions and the ethics of production to emerging forms of media, film, and cultural entrepreneurship. By unfolding across studios, galleries, and theatres, it mirrors the diversity and interconnectedness of the creative field, revealing how different disciplines intersect and sustain one another.

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Day 3 – Full Day Conference: Creativity As Collective Futures

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The final day gathers all participants under one roof at Teatru Salesjan. It centres on collective vision-making, discussing infrastructures that nurture creativity, frameworks for professionalisation, and the evolving relationship between art, technology, and society. Sessions explore advocacy and policy, audience engagement, AI ethics, and alternative models of support, culminating in a shared reflection on how cultural ecosystems can thrive with integrity and care.

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Reflecting on the purpose behind the initiative, Maria Galea, President of MEIA, remarked:

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“Our aim is to give culture the place it deserves, not at the margins of public debate, but at its centre. Culture at Work is a statement to recognise creativity as labour, to amplify the voices of those who sustain it, and to shape a more equitable cultural future. This unconference reflects a collective need—to move from survival to sustainability, from isolation to collaboration. It is about building the conditions where cultural work is understood as essential to our wellbeing, our education, our economy, and our democracy. It’s a call for shared responsibility, to invest in creativity as infrastructure, and to ensure that those who give meaning to our society can continue to thrive within it.”

MEIA: Advocating For Culture As Work

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Founded to represent Malta’s creative and cultural sectors, MEIA champions fair conditions, sustainable infrastructures, and forward-looking policies that recognise the creative sectors as a pillar of economic, civic, and social life. Through Culture at Work, MEIA extends its advocacy to an international platform, ensuring that Malta becomes a key site for cultural dialogue, innovation, and professional development.

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Event Access

Attendance is complimentary for MEIA members.

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Public admission fees:
€15 for Days 1 and 2
€35 for Days 1 and 3
€50 for a full three-day pass

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All passes include access to curated workshops and networking opportunities, discounted taxi rates, and refreshments on the final day.

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Partners

Culture at Work is supported by Arts Council Malta, VisitMalta, Equipp, and Invent 3D as main partners, with strategic collaboration from Culture Venture and ARC Research & Consultancy. The initiative is also supported by HSBC Malta Foundation, Theatre Next Door, Udjenza, MICAS – Malta International Contemporary Art Space, Stilla, Creative Europe Desk Malta, Stargate Studios, Piscopo, Farsons Foundation, Brillace, Bolt, Ecabs, together with media partners Vibe FM, Newsbook Malta, and RTK103.

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For further updates and information on how to get involved, visit MEIA’s website or follow MEIA on social media.