Artistic Practice & Artificial Intelligence: New Research from Culture Venture
Culture Venture has published Artistic Practice & Artificial Intelligence: Impacts and Future Directions for Malta’s Arts Sector, a new research project supported by Arts Council Malta.
The study is one of the first of its kind in Malta, examining how artists across literature, visual arts, music, performing arts and interdisciplinary practice are engaging with AI, and what this means for their creative work and working conditions.
Authored by Toni Attard, Graziella Vella and Prof. Valerie Visanich, the research combines a sector-wide survey, expert interviews, a co-design workshop and international policy analysis. It includes a conversation with UNESCO AI expert Octavio Kulesz, and situates Malta’s experience within wider European debates on AI, culture and creators’ rights.
Among the findings: 81% of respondents already use AI in their creative practice, most often for research, ideation and administrative tasks, yet 82% have had no formal training in it. While AI is largely seen as a boost to efficiency, artists remain firmly protective of the human core of their work, with strong majorities calling for clearer regulation, ethical standards and stronger protection of Maltese cultural identity.
The report closes with ten recommendations for Malta’s cultural and creative sectors, from a national AI and Culture strategy and artist-centred AI literacy programme, to guidance on copyright and consent, and investment in Maltese-language datasets.
We would like to thank Toni Attard, Prof. Valerie Visanich and Graziella Vella for leading this research, the University of Malta’s School of Performing Arts Department for their collaboration, Denise Perini, and every artist and cultural practitioner who gave their time and insight along the way.
This project is supported by Arts Council Malta.
