The Temporary Studio Membership Scheme is a new pilot project for the Valletta Design Cluster during the period 2025-2027 to increase and facilitate access to our studios. This is intended for creatives who require a private studio, and the facilities that the Valletta Design Cluster offers, for a minimum of one and a maximum of six months.
The Temporary Studio Membership aims to give designers, creators, and makers the time and space to build their creative practice or to work on a specific collaborative or solo project. Design is defined here as a problem-solving process that is focused on creating a product, service, or system that meets specific requirements and solves a problem.
The call will be open all year and studios will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants.
1. Who is eligible for the Temporary Studio Membership?
Eligible candidates would be those working in product design, game design, industrial design, graphic design, sustainable design, information design, visual and digital art, fashion design, maker-based practices, and other design-related disciplines.
Applicants eligible to apply for a studio are:
- Legally registered VO/NGOs
- Legally registered Startups, Nano (up to 5 employees) and Micro (up to 10 employees) enterprises.
- Legally registered Co-operatives
- Legal partnerships with a minimum of 2 partners.
- Freelancers
Studios may also be shared between not more than three entities. The entities applying for a shared studio must apply for the studio together as part of one application. All entities applying must be eligible to become Temporary Studio members for the application to be eligible for evaluation.
2. How long is Temporary Studio Membership for?
Temporary Studio Membership is available for between one and six months. Members can use the allocation at one go or in shorter non-consecutive periods. Applicants may also request to extend their current membership as long as they have not exceeded the total duration of six months. Once the six months are exhausted, the applicant will not be eligible for temporary studio membership for two years from the date of expiry of the sixth month.
2.1 How does this work?
Let’s consider various scenarios:
- Applicant A applies for a 2-month membership for a project in January and leaves the studio in February once the 2 months are over. A few months later, the same person applies for and is granted a second membership starting in July lasting 4 months.
- Applicant B applied for a 2-month membership in January to work on a project. In the third week of membership, they request an extension to the membership of an additional month and this is granted.
- Applicant C applies for a 5-month membership in January. In the third week of May, they request an extension of one month and this is granted. A few months later, the applicant applies for a 2-month membership for a new project. This is not granted as Applicant C has exhausted the six months available to them.
2.2 Can I still use the VDC during this two year period?
Yes, during this period, the applicant may consider applying for the Annual Studio Membership to access a studio at the Valletta Design Cluster for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 years (renewable each year) or for Regular Membership which provides access to common resources including meeting rooms, Friggieri Hall and the Makerspace.
3. What obligations does a Temporary Studio member have?
Temporary Studio members:
- Must sign a Contract and a Code of Conduct with the VDC.
- Comply with studio usage requirements to ensure consistent use
- Must contribute a minimum of one public workshop/talk during their period of occupancy or one article to be published on the VDC online magazine/blog on topics related to their line of work to be held at the VDC.
- Must be covered by an insurance policy to cover the member. In case of a shared studio, each applicant may have their own insurance policy or a joint one. The policy consists of a public liability cover and buildings and contents cover policy which covers the studio member and the VDC in case of liability to third parties or damage to the applicants’ studio and its furnishings, the VDC building and its equipment or third-party property caused by the members or their representatives. The capping for liability should be a minimum of €500,000. Insurance companies offer different products for this, from a Buildings and Contents cover to a ‘Lease or Rented Premises Extension’ to a Public Liability Insurance Policy. The sum to be insured with regards to cost of building is calculated on a square meter basis for the specific Studio assigned to the applicant.
3.1 What are the Studio Usage Requirements?
We’ve established studio occupancy requirements to ensure our limited resources are utilized to their maximum potential. By requiring a minimum number of hours, we can guarantee that our studio spaces are actively used for creative work, providing a vibrant and productive environment for all members. This policy helps us provide the most value to our creative community by ensuring that these valuable spaces are not sitting empty.
Studios are available for solo use (freelancer) or for use by multiple people (organisation or shared studio). The usage requirements are:
For Freelancers & Individuals in a solo studio: You are required to carry out a minimum of 32 hours a week. Collaborators may contribute up to 10% of the hours required.
Organizations in a solo studio: You are required to carry out a minimum of 48 hours a week, shared between your employees. Collaborators may contribute up to 10% of the hours required.
For between a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 people in a shared studio: You are required to carry out a minimum of 48 hours a week, shared between members. Collaborators may contribute up to 10% of the hours required.
4. How much does Temporary Studio Membership cost and what does it cover?
The monthly fee for 2025 is €250 exc VAT (or €295 inc VAT) per month and it is payable in advance.
The fee covers the use of the studio with two tables and two desk chairs, utilities and WIFI as well as 60 hours monthly access to other VDC facilities including meeting rooms, Makerspace and Foodspace,. Additional charges may apply for use of consumables or of high-consumption machinery. Studios are an average of 19m2 in size and some are equipped with a loft which can be used for storage.
5. How do I apply for Temporary Studio Membership?
Applying is quick and easy. Fill in the application form at this link and make sure to upload all the requested documents, including a portfolio of your work.
The applications will be evaluated and, if no clarifications are needed, a decision will be communicated to the applicant within 15 working days of application.
If accepted, the applicant will be asked to provide their insurance policy, sign the Contract and Code of Conduct and process the payment.
5.1 By when do I need to apply?
The temporary studio membership is a running call, similar to the call for regular membership. There is therefore no set deadline for the applications but they are dependent on studio availability.
6. How will Temporary Studio Members be selected?
Provided the temporary studio member satisfies the eligibility criteria, every application is evaluated on its own merits and is subject to studio availability. During the evaluation process the following criteria will be taken into consideration:
- the applicant’s contribution to the field of Design/Cultural and Creative innovation on a local, national and/or international level;
- the applicant’s portfolio, displaying their creative and innovative ideas as well as their technical skills and knowledge;
- the intended use of the studio and other VDC facilities and how well the applicant can fulfil the conditions for use;
- the applicant’s plans to develop skills, knowledge, practices, and other intangible resources by using the resources at the Cluster and to share these with other members and beyond.
