Puppetry, Make-Up and Design for Film among New Courses at the Malta Society of Arts

All courses take place at Palazzo de La Salle in Valletta, the beautiful, historic seat of the MSA in the heart of the capital.

The Malta Society of Arts (MSA) has announced its new schedule of courses starting in February, featuring a diverse range of new offerings across the visual, applied and performing arts. Six new courses have been added to the programme: Make-Up for Theatre and Film, Introduction to Puppetry Workshop, Introduction to Creating Artworks for Stage and Screen, Public Speaking, Presentation and Debate, as well as Flute for Beginners and Double Bass for Beginners.

The eight-week Make-Up for Theatre and Film course will introduce students to the essentials of character design, facial artistry and professional application techniques. Participants will explore how lighting, distance and camera work influence make-up choices, and develop core skills in contouring, shading and highlighting to create effective looks for both theatre and screen.

The Introduction to Puppetry Workshop, delivered over four sessions, will guide participants through the making of shadow, hand and tabletop puppets using simple tools and materials. Students will also experiment with animating these puppets through storytelling and basic performance techniques.

In Introduction to Creating Artworks for Stage and Screen, participants will gain insight into the structure and workflow of a professional art department. The course covers script analysis, response to creative briefs, development of traditional drawing skills and working with digital design processes for theatre, film and television. Students will be guided towards producing a final, portfolio-ready project.

Within the performing arts section, the MSA is introducing Public Speaking, Presentation and Debate: Find Your Voice. This course focuses on developing confidence, clarity and conviction in verbal communication. Through practical exercises, voice and body work, and live speaking and debating practice, participants will learn how to engage audiences, think on their feet and communicate with authenticity and impact.

This February also marks the expansion of the MSA’s music programme. Alongside the popular Guitar, Piano and Violin classes, the Society is launching Flute for Beginners and Double Bass for Beginners. The Double Bass course offers a holistic formation in physical literacy, cognitive control, musical understanding and ensemble awareness, nurturing well-rounded musicians able to support and enhance group music-making.

The Flute course introduces basic notation, rhythm, time and key signatures, posture, breath control, embouchure, finger placement and tone production. Students will also learn simple melodies, scales and arpeggios.

These new courses join an already popular selection of applied arts classes, including Creative Writing (often fully booked within days), Crochet, Dressmaking, Ganutell, Lace Making, Knitting, Sewing for Beginners and Tailoring.

The Visual Arts section continues to offer established favourites such as Art for Kids (various age groups), Art for Leisure (adults and mature students), Clay Modelling, Nude Human Figure, Portraiture and Art Workshops, alongside relatively new additions like Create a Digital Storybook, Oil Painting, Pencil and Charcoal Drawing, and Batik Art.

Furthermore, the MSA also offers a 50 percent discount on selected courses for its members. This benefit applies to members over the age of 18 who have paid their three-year membership fee.

Applications are now open for all courses. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early, as places are limited.

For more details about the courses offered by the Malta Society of Arts please check out the website here!