EFFEA Call#4 & Info Sessions for Malta & Gozo

ARC Research & Consultancy, member of the EFFEA platform, is organising 2 info sessions on the recently launched EFFEA Call #4, which is continuing its goal to empower arts festivals in taking emerging artists under their wings through cross-border residencies in collaboration with partner festivals. 

A Creative Europe platform, led by European Festivals Association, EFFEA is supporting up to 50 residencies involving at least 50 emerging artists collaborating with over 150 festivals throughout 2026. 

What does EFFEA Call #4 have to offer?

EFFEA Residency

The EFFEA Residency is an artist-in-residence programme aimed at fostering the international career of emerging artists in collaboration with a minimum of 3 festivals: one leading festival and at least two partners from different eligible countries. The residency provides emerging artists with dedicated time, space and support to explore their ideas and creative projects, whether original works or the evolution of existing ones. 

Emerging artists are not defined by age but rather by their novelty to programmers and audiences and their potential for international breakthrough. Artists can be individuals or groups working across various artistic disciplines.

Two Residency Categories

1. EFFEA Discovery: Festivals support artists at the early stages of their careers with a strong potential to break through internationally. Approximately 40 grants of €8,000 will be awarded.

The outcomes for all chosen grant applicants must be:

• One presentation of work-in-progress (or production result) at the leading festival  
• One workshop (live or online) between the artist and the consortium festivals
• One EFFEA film about the residency (to be included in the final report)
•  Participation in the EFFEA Intake and Outtake Seminars
• One EFFEA film about the residency (to be included in the final report)
• Participation in the EFFEA Intake and Outtake Seminars

Within this framework, artists forge close ties with festival programmers, emphasising a commitment beyond a singular presentation. The goal is to establish lasting and meaningful connections between artists, festivals, and audiences. 

2. EFFEA Springboard: Festivals support artists established in their own countries and ready to expand internationally. Approximately 10 grants of €15,000 will be awarded.

The outcomes for all chosen grant applicants must be:

• One presentation of the artist’s work (finished work) at the leading festival and each partner festival, totaling at least three presentations
• One masterclass led by the artist in at least three countries, taking place at the leading festival and at least two partner festivals

EFFEA Information Sessions in Malta and Gozo

ARC, in collaboration with EFFEA, will be organising two in-person information sessions for applicants based in the Maltese Islands on Thursday 18th September 2025 to guide arts festival applicants and support the development of residency proposals. 

Gozo Information session – EFFEA Call #4

Location: Victoria Local Council, Gozo
Time: 11AM-12PM
Click to register

Malta Information session – EFFEA Call #4

Location: Friggieri Hall, Valletta Design Cluster,  Malta 
Time: 5:50PM-6:30PM
Click to register

The deadline for registrations for Info sessions is 12PM (Noon) Monday 15th September 2025

𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 & 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝑭𝑭𝑬𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒂, 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑭𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒄𝒐-𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏.
Past Project: Sarah Vella – EFFEA Reflection

Online EFFEA Info Sessions

To guide applicants and support the development of residency proposals, EFA will organise four online EFFEA Sessions offering information, Q&A opportunities, and matchmaking support between festivals and artists.

Register now for one or more sessions:

9 September 2025 – Register here

30 September 2025 – Register here

7 October 2025 – Register here

21 October 2025 – Register here

For eligibility (countries, disciplines), evaluation criteria, financial details, and full application guidelines, click here.

Application deadline: 3rd November 2025.