From Malta to Vienna: Lessons I’m Taking With Me

In August, I’ll be relocating to Vienna, Austria.

This marks the end of a beautiful chapter in Malta, one that began unexpectedly in the spring of 2021.

I didn’t know much about Malta when I first moved here. My husband and I came from a bedroom in a shared apartment in England after we were displaced from our jobs. We used the last of our savings to get to arrive on this small island country. Like many decisions during that pandemic-era haze, it felt like a leap. And honestly, I was a little worried about what I was getting into.

But what I found was something unexpected: an open, vibrant, and encouraging art community.

Austria is now in the picture

Over the last few years, Malta offered me so many firsts:

• My first artist residency

• A curated solo exhibition

• Several group shows

• An entrepreneurship course for artists

• A tenancy in a subsidised studio

• And most importantly, a network of kind, creative, and curious people

These weren’t just experiences, they were stepping stones, and I’ve been writing out the next chapter with these lessons at the core.

As I prepare for Vienna, I want to reflect on some of the strategies that helped me integrate into Malta’s art world, in the hope they might inspire someone else (and keep me accountable as I try to do it all over again in a new country):

Tip #1 - Sign Up to Life Model (or Draw at One)

One of the first things I did when I got to Malta was sign up for life modelling. And I recommend this whether you're the model or the artist. It's one of the best ways to get into a creative environment quickly, meet people with similar interests, and find connection without the pressure of “networking.” You can do this with art courses or workshops as well, but I find that usually the more serious artists occupy the life drawing space.

Bonus if you're the model: you get paid to show up and be part of the process.

Tip #2 - Work Where Artists Hang Out

After a year of living in Malta, I switched my job to work part-time at an art supply shop. It was a game-changer, and not just for the discounts (though those were helpful), but because I got to talk to artists every day. I learned about their projects, asked questions, and yes, I was probably a bit snoopy, but everyone was happy to share.

If you can, get into a workplace that attracts creatives. You’ll absorb more than you expect, and you’ll become part of the daily flow of the community.

Tip #3 - Apply For Everything

Grants, workshops, residencies, schemes—apply for them all. In the high times (before packing took over my life), I applied to as many opportunities as I could find. I got used to rejection letters and even started collecting them. They remind me that I’m doing the work.

And the way I see it:

The quicker you get rejected, the faster the acceptance letter will come.

Tip #4 - Show Up in Your Community (Even Outside the Art World)

If you’re making the art, you need to connect with the people who need the art. Don’t wait for the perfect gallery opening, go to anything. Community festivals, public talks, random workshops, or even creative meetups outside your usual medium. The more visible and involved you are, the more you’ll find your audience (and your place).

Looking Ahead to Vienna

I’m heading to Vienna with a plan: I’ve already reached out to several local art groups, I’m working toward becoming more fluent in German (currently A2!), and I’m kicking things off with a two-week artist residency in the city center this September.

I want to bring everything Malta taught me and see what happens when I apply it all in this new place.

It’s exciting, but also bittersweet. Malta has been such a surprise gift in my life. The warmth of the art community here (literally and figuratively) has shaped me in ways I didn’t anticipate. My heart aches to know this won’t be right outside my front door anymore. But I’m not saying goodbye completely.

I’ll be back this autumn for a collective exhibition, and I’ll continue carrying the spirit of this place into everything I do.

Thank you, Malta. And thank you to those of you who have followed along on this journey. I hope you’ll come with me into this next chapter.

Not Signed Up to the Newsletter Yet?

Are you interested in taking a sneak peek at what I'm up to in the studio and in the art world?: Click here to sign up for the inside scoop once a month for a personal update from me.