Spazju Kreattiv

Many visitors to Valletta come for the baroque churches and the harbour views, then discover that the capital also has a lively contemporary arts scene. Spazju Kreattiv is the heart of it. Known as Malta's National Centre for Creativity, it occupies a fortress at the top of the city, close to Castille Square, and fills the old stone rooms with film, theatre, exhibitions and workshops.

It is a rewarding stop for anyone who likes a cultural evening that is not a concert or a restaurant meal. On VisitMalta.co.uk the centre is listed in our directories of cinemas in Malta and art galleries in Malta, and it makes a good companion to the sights in our Valletta guide.

A fortress turned cultural hub

The building is St James Cavalier, one of only two fortresses completed out of the nine originally planned for Valletta. It was designed by Francesco Laparelli and finished by his successor Girolamo Cassar, the pair behind much of the city's famous architecture. A cavalier in military terms is a raised platform, and this one stands on high ground overlooking Floriana, built to defend the new capital against attack by land.

Despite its massive walls, much of the structure was packed with earth, leaving only a few utility rooms and a steep ramp up to the rooftop gun platform. Over the centuries it served as a water reservoir, then a NAAFI facility (the canteen service used by British forces), and later the Government Printing Press. In 2000 it was reborn as part of Malta's millennium project, and it has been the home of Spazju Kreattiv ever since.

If the story of the city's founders and defenders interests you, our Knights of Malta guide sets out the wider history behind these fortifications.

Cinema, theatre and galleries

The centre describes its cinema as Malta's only arthouse cinema, and the screens run an eclectic mix. Recent listings have included a new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, National Theatre Live broadcasts, an Exhibition on Screen film about Frida Kahlo, and a restored 4K release of Pan's Labyrinth for its twentieth anniversary. Programme details change with the season, so treat these as examples of the sort of film you can expect.

Alongside the screen sits a theatre space for performing arts, including Maltese-language productions, and a set of galleries for visual art. Past and current exhibitions have ranged from painting to photography and thematic group shows, usually with a run of several weeks, which makes it easy to catch one during a short stay. The centre also invites artists from abroad to work in Malta through its Artist-in-Residence Programme, which is one reason the exhibitions often feel fresh and international rather than purely local.

After a film or gallery visit you can step out to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for the view over the Grand Harbour, which is only a short walk from Castille Square.

Families and young audiences

Younger visitors are well catered for. ŻiguŻajg is the centre's programme for children and young people, and it presents itself as Malta's leading arts programme for families. The ŻiguŻajg Arts Festival for Children and Young People began in 2011 and has become a regular fixture in the Maltese cultural calendar, while a year-round ŻiguŻajg Season offers hands-on workshops and performances in between festivals.

If you are travelling with children and want something that is neither a beach nor a theme park, check what is on at the centre before you fly. Our page on things to do in Malta gives more ideas for rainy days and for the hotter hours of summer.

Opening hours and planning a visit

Spazju Kreattiv opens Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 9pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 9pm. It is closed on Mondays, which is worth remembering if your trip is short. The late closing makes an evening visit easy to fit around dinner. A shop is planned but is listed as coming soon.

Valletta is compact and best explored on foot, and you can choose from several hotels in Valletta within a few minutes' walk of the centre. If you are still deciding when to travel, the Malta weather guide explains how the seasons affect a city break. For questions about the programme, access or the residency, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Spazju Kreattiv.