The MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts (ICA) Festival officially opened on Friday, 4 July at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta, celebrating the work of final-year Bachelor of Arts students across eleven creative disciplines. Marking its ninth edition, the festival features an extensive programme of exhibitions, live performances, screenings, and public talks, running until 14 September.

In addition to launching the festival, MCAST and Spazju Kreattiv also signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to extend the ongoing partnership between the two institutions. The agreement aims to strengthen further opportunities for collaboration, exhibition, and engagement between students and Malta’s wider cultural sector.

Stephen Vella, MCAST Principal and CEO, said the partnership reflects the college’s drive to embed students’ creative output within Malta’s broader cultural landscape: “Showing their work at Spazju Kreattiv gives our students more than just visibility, it gives them a sense of place. It tells them their work belongs at the centre of public life and cultural dialogue in Malta.”

Rupert Cefai, Spazju Kreattiv Executive Chairman, welcomed the renewed agreement as a long-term investment in creative education, saying “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to Malta’s cultural future. Year after year, the ICA Festival brings fresh energy to this space, and we’re proud to keep building a bridge between student creativity and the public.”

The 2025 festival spans a wide range of disciplines, including Fine Art, Photography, Interactive Digital Media, Fashion, Spatial and Product Design, Creative Media Production, Journalism, Game Art, Graphic Design, and Performing Arts. Highlights include short film screenings by Creative Media Production students, performances by Performing Arts students, as well as hands-on workshops and career-focused events such as the Talk Talks series and career guidance sessions.

Speaking at the opening, Carla Polizzi and Duane Borg highlighted the festival as the culmination of years of creative growth and collaboration. Another exhibiting student Andrea D’Olimpio described the journey as “a space where learning moved beyond the classroom and into real, lived experiences”.

Admission to the exhibition is free, with select events requiring registration. A full programme of activities and opening times is available via the Spazju Kreattiv website.