Sovereign Trust (Malta) Limited, part of the international Sovereign Group, together with The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) has launched the ninth edition of the prestigious Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize – Malta and Gozo.
The annual competition shines a spotlight on the outstanding creativity and talent of secondary school students across Malta and Gozo.
Secondary schools and colleges are invited to submit up to 10 original works each, across a wide range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and digital art. From these entries, 20 artworks will be shortlisted and showcased in public exhibitions in Malta, where both a panel of distinguished judges and the public will cast their votes.
Entries will be accepted from December 8 to January 19, 2026. Two winning artists and their schools will receive awards which will be presented at a special ceremony at the Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa on April 16, 2026. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges that includes renowned artists, educators, art industry professionals and Howard Bilton, chairperson of the Sovereign Group.
For the eighth edition of the prize, Sovereign collaborated for the first time with Arts Council Malta and introduced an exciting new opportunity. In addition to the main prizes, one student received an exclusive Arts Council Malta award − a dedicated stipend to pursue further artistic studies or development opportunities either locally or abroad. This partnership underscored a shared commitment to nurturing emerging talent and creating pathways for students to grow beyond the classroom.
“Each year we are inspired by the incredible quality and imagination shown by our young artists”
Founded in 2003 by Bilton, the SAF is a charitable organisation dedicated to recognising contemporary art talent and bringing the transformative power of creative expression to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Since its inception, the foundation’s art prizes have raised more than $15 million to support artists and charities worldwide. The SAF Students Prizes now span the globe, from Hong Kong to Guernsey, Bahrain, Singapore, Mauritius, Portugal, the Isle of Man, Malta and Gozo, Gibraltar, London, Chester and Cyprus.
Stephen Griffiths, managing director of Sovereign Trust (Malta) Limited, said: “The Students Prize has become a cornerstone of the Maltese arts calendar, and each year we are inspired by the incredible quality and imagination shown by our young artists. After the success of last year’s edition and our collaboration with Arts Council Malta again this year, we are more excited than ever to see what this new cohort will create. We remain committed to giving students not just recognition, but real opportunities to take their art further.”
Sovereign Art Foundation in Malta also supports Camp Willingness, funding programmes that offer art-based rehabilitation to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. For more information, e-mail eventsmalta@SovereignArtFoundation.com or call 2122 8411.
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