Programs and activities across the Maltese islands.
Cicada Foundation For Art & Education (VO/0999) delivers four permanent programme pillars. Each runs year-round, is open to applicants from any locality in Malta and Gozo, and is coordinated from our office at Triq IL-Kbira, Ħaż-Żebbuġ ZBG 1305, Malta.
Community Art & Creative Workshops
Hands-on painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and digital media classes for youth and adults, delivered in community halls, schools and partner studios across Malta.
- Weekly evening and weekend sessions in acrylic and oil painting, observational drawing, clay modelling and relief printing, grouped by experience rather than age so families can attend together.
- Digital media strands covering photography, image editing, digital illustration and short-form video, taught on equipment provided by the foundation so participants need no hardware of their own.
- Introductory courses in traditional Maltese crafts led by senior practitioners, including limestone carving, ganutell and decorative lace techniques.
- All materials are supplied. Fees are set at cost recovery, and a confidential waiver is available to any household for whom the fee would be a barrier.
Educational Art Therapy & Inclusion
Specialised creative programmes supporting marginalised and diverse groups in Malta, delivered with qualified facilitators and in partnership with care and education providers.
- Structured creative sessions for young people with additional learning needs, designed with their educators and adapted for sensory, mobility and communication requirements.
- Group programmes for residents of care settings and day centres, focused on expression, routine and social contact rather than artistic output alone.
- Multilingual workshops for newly arrived residents, using making as a low-pressure route into language practice, orientation and friendship.
- Safeguarding procedures, vetted facilitators and clear consent practices apply to every session involving minors or vulnerable adults.
Cultural Exhibitions & Public Events
Public showcases of local artistic talent, heritage exhibitions and community festivals that return the work of our participants to the neighbourhoods that produced it.
- Annual open exhibition presenting work from every workshop cohort, staged in accessible public venues with free admission.
- Curated heritage exhibitions pairing historical material with contemporary responses, accompanied by talks and guided visits for school groups.
- Community festivals combining live making, music and food, organised together with local councils and neighbourhood associations.
- Documentation of every exhibition — catalogue texts, photography and participant statements — is retained in the foundation's archive.
Youth Art Mentorship & Scholarships
Guidance and financial support for emerging artists and students pursuing creative education, from first portfolio to professional practice.
- One-to-one mentorship pairing young artists with established practitioners for a structured programme of studio visits, critique and goal setting.
- Portfolio clinics preparing applicants for art school interviews, competitions and residency applications, including written feedback.
- Scholarships and materials grants awarded on documented need and demonstrated commitment, assessed by an independent committee.
- Practice skills sessions on pricing, contracts, exhibiting, grant writing and tax obligations, so creative careers rest on sound footing.
Join a programme
Enrolment is open throughout the year. Write to info@cicadaarts.sbs or call +356 9991 1394 and our administrative office will advise on availability, fees and waivers.