Grants, Funding and Sponsorship

Opening Doors Association is beneficiary of the Investment in Cultural Organisations (ICO) programme of Arts Council Malta for three years, 2023 – 2025.

Opening Doors is also a beneficiary of The President’s Fund for Creativity, Strand 1, which is aimed at supporting capacity building and development of organisations active in the field of Arts and Culture. The fund is used to cover part of the cost of OD’s administrator, between July 2023 – June 2026.

Our level 2 music programme is sponsored by The Melita Foundation, for April 2023 – March 2024.

We have a collaboration agreement with Fondazzjoni Ċentru għall-Kreattivitá (Spazju Kreattiv) to develop an inclusive strategy plan that incorporates targeted events and activities; establish an inclusive ethos with creative partners and staff; and draft cross-collaborations with national and international networks.

We have a close working relationship with the Ministry for Inclusion and Voluntary Sector, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, Aġenzija Sapport and CRPD.

In addition we are sponsored by Teatru Manoel and by Alison White Dance Studios.

Investment in Cultural Organisations – Arts Council Malta

Opening Doors Association is a beneficiary of Investment in Cultural Organisations funding by Arts Council Malta for three years, 2023 – 2025. This follows Opening Doors’ Cultural Partnership Agreement with Arts Council Malta from 2017 to 2019 and Investment in Cultural Organisations funding from 2020-2022. It is the only organisation in Malta that strives to secure artistic projects with the aim to create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to participate in artistic and creative activities locally and abroad, and to create ongoing training opportunities that would develop the creative potential of people with intellectual disabilities to develop artistic skills that would manifest in expressions of artistic quality.

In so doing, Opening Doors’ specialised creative work falls in line with the Arts Council Malta’s strategy to work with communities that are ‘hard-to-reach’ and that have different abilities.

Moreover, by regularly opening its artistic work to the public, Opening Doors tries to ensure its artistic visibility in order to develop public awareness of the contribution people with intellectual disabilities can make to the creative sector.

The three-year ICO programme will provide a stable support for Opening Doors to develop and deliver ACM’s strategic goals, namely to:

  1. nurture creative potential and support its development into professional activity by engaging the necessary professionally competent human resources as might be needed to carry out the artistic projects. To this effect, Opening Doors aims to engage an Artistic Director and other artistic collaborators to work with people with intellectual disabilities and help them develop their artistic potential;
  1. invest in artistic excellence by engaging competent professionals in the field of the arts and of disability to help in the artistic formation of Opening Doors’ core artists and help them develop the necessary skills. To this effect, Opening Doors aims to create its own company of artists that want to develop further their artistic skills and are willing to take this opportunity more intensively;
  1. connect Malta to the international artistic community by coordinating international workshops that would facilitate the sharing and exchange of ideas, creative work and work practices and provide Opening Doors’ young community of artists to grow artistically. To this effect, Opening Doors has already started exploring possible collaborations with international long-established companies that have wider experience in working in the combined fields of the arts and disability, that would not only enable reciprocal enrichment but would also serve to achieve further artistic excellence of the artists with intellectual disability as well as their professional trainers; and,
  1. provide more opportunities for people to engage in creativity by creating projects with the sole purpose of creative development. In line with this, all the training that takes place consists in engaging the Opening Doors groups of artists in creative development. To this effect, the organisation aims to continue developing annual productions, with the aim of reaching out to the wider community (including other communities of people with different abilities) and creating fora and spaces where more creative encounters could take place.

 

The President’s Fund for Creativity

The President’s Fund for Creativity is aimed at strengthening inclusivity, community development and well-being through cultural participation and creative expression. It is linked to the implementation of Arts Council Malta’s ongoing strategy – with a particular focus on championing cultural rights and providing further opportunities for people to engage in creative expression. The funding will be used to cover part of the annual cost of its freelance administrator. The administrator’s role ensures the smooth running of artistic programs for adults with intellectual disabilities, fostering their social integration in the creative industry. Opening Doors is committed to inclusivity and believes in diversity in leadership. The funding will allow the organisation to continue its commitment to members, support artistic programmes, and develop new works and collaborations.


 

The Melita Foundation Sponsorship – Music Programme

Opening Doors Association’s Level 2 Music programme is sponsored by The Melita Foundation, from April 2023 to March 2024. The programme provides musicians with opportunities for creative expression and performance. It is a space for developing higher artistic skills and performance, including the development of repertoire and performing in music festivals and established national events.