MEIA met on 13 November with Dr Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, Minister for Arts, Culture and National Heritage, to address the concerns raised in the open letter. MEIA has been formally informed that there will be no resignation or reassignment of the Minister. We know this decision will disappoint many who supported the letter, and we want to be transparent with our community about the position communicated to us.

More than 3,300 creative professionals and 55 organisations stood together for the respect our artistic and cultural community deserves. We thank everyone who signed and take seriously the responsibility of carrying your voices forward.

During the lengthy meeting, we addressed the Minister’s remarks directly and conveyed your concerns, frustration and expectations. The Minister expressed his readiness to work towards regaining the sector’s trust and asked to be given time to adjust to his role. He also conveyed his appreciation for people working in the arts and his desire to do better and support the sector. We spoke openly about the sentiment felt, the lack of formal acknowledgement of what happened and made clear that respectful communication and meaningful engagement must be the basis of any work together.

Our position on the seriousness of the Minister’s remarks and the loss of trust across the sector remains unchanged. However, the decision on his position is beyond our control. Our responsibility now is to ensure that the concerns behind the open letter remain central to our engagement with the Ministry. Given the decision communicated to us, we are ready to pursue a constructive way forward, while continuing to represent the sector independently and stand firmly by the concerns raised.

Trust has been damaged, and rebuilding it will take time. The willingness expressed by the Minister must now be reflected in consistent action, better dialogue and tangible progress for the sector. MEIA will follow up on the commitments discussed and keep the community informed about what has been delivered and where further action is needed.

The unity shown over these past days matters. It must continue beyond this moment through ongoing participation, dialogue and collective effort. Thank you to everyone who signed and spoke up. Your voices brought us to this conversation and will continue to guide our work.