PRESS STATEMENT
15th March 2026
The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) issued this statement following the opening of the second edition of the Malta Biennale.
MEIA recognises the ambition behind the Malta Biennale and the intention to position Malta as a platform for contemporary artistic dialogue. Cultural events of this scale can foster exchange between artists, institutions, and audiences while strengthening Malta’s presence within the international contemporary art landscape.
However, initiatives of this nature also carry significant responsibility. International biennials are not simply exhibitions; they are cultural platforms that require strong governance, transparent processes and professional respect for the artists and cultural practitioners involved.
In the weeks leading up to the opening of the Malta Biennale 2026, MEIA received concerning reports from participating artists and cultural organisations, both Maltese and international. Many of these concerns echo issues already raised following the first edition of the Malta Biennale in 2024.
Following the inaugural edition, MEIA issued a public statement calling for greater transparency and accountability in the organisation of the event. A detailed report containing recommendations was also submitted to Heritage Malta, addressing governance, curatorial clarity, communication, artist support structure and transparent commissioning processes.
While certain improvements have been introduced in the current edition, including open calls for key roles, dedicated production contacts, and the introduction of satellite events, many of the recommendations aimed at strengthening transparency, professional standards and sector engagement have not yet been implemented.
Concerns Raised by Participating Artists:
- Communication gaps between the Biennale’s organisational team and participating artists, including incomplete or delayed information regarding programme activities and opening-week logistics;
- Invitations to official events arriving late or not at all, resulting in some artists being excluded from opening events or award ceremonies despite participating in the programme;
- Installation timelines not being adhered to, with several pavilions and exhibitions reportedly finalised shortly before the opening;
- Limited curatorial and logistical involvement during installation periods;
- Insufficient professional documentation of exhibitions and artworks, leaving international media without press imagery during opening week;
- Last-minute curatorial decisions leading to the removal of artworks and artists, after works had already been completed and delivered;
- Artworks reproduced in official publications without proper artist credit, raising concerns regarding copyright and intellectual property rights;
- Outstanding artistic fees, with some artists reporting payments overdue since late 2025;
- MEIA has also been informed that, in one instance, an artist removed from participation issued a formal legal letter regarding the situation which has not yet received an official response;
- Inconsistent or incorrect information across the website, guidebook and exhibition signage limited contextual information accompanying artworks; and
- International and Maltese artists reported lack of sensitivity and lack of professionalism in communication with the curatorial team.
These concerns highlight the importance of predictable working conditions, clear curatorial frameworks and transparent communication when organising an international exhibition. MEIA had previously recommended collaborating with an international contemporary art communications partner to support professional media outreach, which does not seem to have been engaged.
The Role of Artists in the Biennale Opening
The format and artistic direction of the Biennale’s opening ceremony has been raised as a concern by several participating artists.
While artists from the main exhibition were invited, many others participating in pavilions and satellite programmes, including artists representing Malta’s own national pavilion, were not included. This created a noticeable divide within the artistic community involved in the Biennale.
Considerable feedback criticising the format of the opening was received. Contemporary art biennials are a specific event that require careful consideration of the nuance of such a discipline. The artists of the event, many with visual art practices that intersect with performance, should themselves remain at the centre of the event.
MEIA also notes that the artistic director responsible for the opening ceremony was directly appointed for both the first and second editions of the Biennale, raising questions regarding transparency in commissioning processes. Reports were also received that some performing artists involved in the opening programme were notified of their participation only around one month in advance.
These concerns raise broader questions about how the Malta Biennale positions artists within its institutional framework and the extent to which they are recognised as central participants in the event.
Governance and Structural Development
During the opening it was announced that Malta Biennale will transition into a foundation structure.
MEIA recognises that establishing a dedicated structure could strengthen governance and support the Biennale’s long-term development. However, such a transition should be based on a thorough analysis of the second edition of the Biennale and undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders and members of the cultural sector.
Within this broader governance context, concerns also remain regarding the autonomy of the Maltese National Pavilion. The continued institutional alignment of the pavilion with MUŻA raises questions regarding the degree of curatorial independence within the Biennale framework. In most international biennales, national pavilions operate with a high level of autonomy and are selected through transparent commissioning processes that encourage wider participation from the artistic community.
MEIA welcomes the introduction of satellite events around the Biennale as a way to broaden participation and extend the event’s cultural reach. However, some organisers indicated that participation required agreements that limited the autonomy of their events. This far reaching oversight is disproportionate to what is standard especially when the satellite events are independently funded. In many international contexts, satellite events evolve more organically. They retain their own identity while benefiting from the visibility and endorsement of the larger event. A more flexible model would allow the Biennale to better support the wider cultural ecosystem it seeks to activate.
“Artists and their work must remain at the core of any international cultural event. The professional conditions under which artists and cultural practitioners are invited to participate are essential to the credibility of such platforms. If Malta aims to position itself as a credible platform for contemporary art, the structures supporting these events must reflect international standards of transparency, governance and respect.”” said Maria Galea, MEIA President.
A sector-wide consultation will also be launched by MEIA among artists, cultural practitioners and audiences to better understand the Biennale’s impact on the cultural community. This process aims to gather direct feedback from those participating in and engaging with the event. Data previously requested by MEIA following the first edition has not yet been made available, and broader sector input will therefore be essential in forming a clearer understanding of the Biennale’s impact and future direction.
While the Malta Biennale has the potential to become an important cultural platform for Malta, MEIA emphasises that credibility within the international contemporary art landscape depends not only on scale or visibility, but on the professional conditions under which artists and cultural practitioners are invited to work, the transparency of governance structures, and the degree to which the sector itself is meaningfully involved.
For this reason, MEIA calls for stronger governance frameworks, transparent processes and open dialogue with the cultural sector to ensure that future editions of the Malta Biennale reflect the professional standards expected of an international cultural event.
At the same time, the public is encouraged to visit the Biennale and engage with the work of the many artists participating across its exhibitions and pavilions. Their artistic practices and contributions remain at the heart of the event and represent the core cultural value of the Biennale.