Young artist to receive a €2,000 grant from Arts Council Malta to help further her artistic development.
The Arts Council Malta prize within the Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize 2025 has been awarded to Sofia Rubasheva. The young artist, a Junior College student at the time of winning, clinched the honour with her work, titled Homage to Gogol (acrylic on paper).
The Award includes a €2,000 grant offered by Arts Council Malta to further her artistic development. She intends to pursue short courses at a leading art academy in Florence in 2026, strengthening her skills and expanding her creative practice.
Established in 2012, the Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prizes celebrate the importance of art in education and recognise the quality of artworks produced by secondary-school students worldwide. Through Arts Council Malta’s support, students from Malta and Gozo are being offered the opportunity to grow while empowering them to take their works to a global audience.
Speaking about the initiative, Arts Council Malta Executive Chair Dr Luke Dalli noted: “The Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize provides an invaluable platform for young artists to explore their creativity and to be recognised on an international level. The awards align with our commitment to foster a culture of education, internationalisation and professionalisation within the local cultural and creative sectors. As we proceed with our consultation process for Envision 2050, we look forward to continuing to support such initiatives, which reflect the overarching principles guiding us towards a healthier and more sustainable future.”
“The Sovereign Art Foundation is delighted to be partnering with Arts Council Malta”, said Stephen Griffiths, Managing Director of Sovereign Trust (Malta) Limited and principal at The Sovereign Art Foundation Malta. “The aims of the Foundation and those of the Arts Council are very well aligned in that it is our core belief that artistic talent and expression should be both nurtured and developed through the education system. Artistic expression not only allows young people to convey their views about the world around them, but it is also an enjoyable pastime and can potentially lead to a successful and rewarding career in the creative industry. The prize offered by The Sovereign Art Foundation aims to support schools and students in Malta with recognition on an international platform along with a monetary reward.”
