Call for applications: «Tandem Diversity» 2023
Digital info event
The event was held in French and in German:
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Would you like to identify discrimination and exclusion mechanisms in your cultural organization? Would you like to analyse your organisational culture and become more accessible? Pro Helvetia supports those wishing to pursue this process with its «Tandem Diversity» programme: Take part in a specially designed two-day workshop to learn the basics of diversity-oriented organisational development and to critically reflect on your organisation. On completing the workshop, you may apply for financial support to initiate and implement a long-term diversity process together with experienced coaches.
What does the «Tandem Diversity» offer?
1. Participation in a two-day diversity workshop
The two-day workshop enables participants to learn about diversity processes in cultural organisations and to reflect on their organisation’s needs based on practice-oriented exercises. What discrimination, exclusion mechanisms and access barriers exist in your organisation? How can you lastingly change your structures, for example, in the areas of staff, audiences and programmes? How can multiple discrimination be addressed? What should take priority? Recognised experts will provide input on these and other questions in group sessions and individual coaching. The workshop aims to convey the methods and tools needed to design an appropriate diversity strategy.
Two persons from your organisation — at least one holding an executive position — will participate in the workshop on 6–7 June 2023. Participation is a prerequisite for financial support (see Section 2).
The application deadline for the participation in the workshop «Tandem Diversity» has expired. The next call for applications is scheduled for early January 2024.
2. Financial support for a long-term diversity process
Have you attended our two-day workshop and decided to initiate a diversity process in your organisation? Would you like to tackle long-term structural changes in different areas, for instance, participatory decision-making, open programmes or inclusive recruitment? If so, you can apply for up to CHF 50,000 to receive advice and support from external diversity experts. Note: Pro Helvetia covers the costs of external experts only for the diversity process.
Funding applications are accepted on an ongoing basis via myprohelvetia. To be eligible for support, applicants must have completed the two-day diversity workshop.
Workshop FAQs
Where and when will the workshop be held?
The workshop will take place on 6–7 June 2023 in Fribourg. Participants will receive the detailed programme approximately two weeks prior to the event. By applying, you agree to attend the workshop on the scheduled dates and to reserve these date until the final selection decision. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by Pro Helvetia.
Who may apply?
The workshop is aimed at the members of publicly funded Swiss cultural organisations. Organisations may participate in the workshop with a maximum of two persons, at least one of whom must have managerial responsibility (board of directors, executive board, HR manager, etc.).
How to apply for the workshop?
Applications must be submitted by 3 April 2023. Only applications submitted via myprohelvetia will be accepted. Application dossiers must include the following information:
- Name and function of participants
- Motivation
- Annual report or information on the structure of the organisation
- The organisation’s diversity objectives
When are participation decisions announced?
The number of participants is limited for organisational reasons. Applicants will be notified by the beginning of May 2023 whether their application has been successful. Decisions are taken by Pro Helvetia.
Funding FAQs
Who may apply for funding?
All publicly funded cultural organisations that have participated in a two-day diversity workshop organised by Pro Helvetia may apply for financial support (see above for the workshop FAQs). Organisations already funded by the Tandem Diversity programme are excluded from further support. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
How do funding applications work?
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and exclusively via myprohelvetia. There are no deadlines.
Application processing times depend on the amount of funding requested:
- Funding decisions for amounts up to CHF 25,000 are taken within eight weeks.
- Funding decisions for amounts between CHF 25,001 and 50,000 are taken within four months.
What is funding available for?
Funding is available for long-term cooperation with external experts. Pro Helvetia covers the costs of external experts only for the diversity process. All other costs (e.g. internal operating and staff costs, rental fees for workshop venues, costs of graphic and web design, etc.) must be covered by the cultural organisation.
What aspects are important for the selection process?
- Clear statement of the baseline: What is the status quo of the organisation? What fields of action do you identify with regard to diversity, for example, in your HR policy, internal cooperation, decision-making processes, the design and curating of programmes, etc. and why?
- Anchoring within the organisation: Is the diversity process supported by the management? Are time, human and financial resources made available for the process? Does diversity appear in a mission statement or is a code of conduct being developed for the organisation?
- Diversity as a cross-cutting issue: In which areas is your organisation addressing diversity? Is this process taking place at several levels of the organisation or is only one area of work (e.g. outreach or arts programme) being considered? To what extent is diversity a goal for the whole organisation and is it being approached intersectionally (i.e. across the organization)?
- Transformation potential: Is the organisation ready for longer-term change? What lasting impact does the proposed diversity process promise? Is/are the expert/s involved promoting self-reflection and change or is coaching aimed more at selective awareness-raising and communication?
What is not funded?
The conception and implementation of individual outreach and art projects as well as selective awareness-raising formats are excluded from funding.
Glossary
Diversity
Diversity as it is understood here focuses on the acknowledgment of commonalities that people share and the differences between them. Another term that could be used in this context is heterogeneity. Historically grown differentiation within a society has led to social inequality based on attributes such as origin, gender, age, language, social position, life orientation, sexual orientation, religious or political convictions, worldview, as well as physical, mental or psychological disabilities (see also Art. 8 of the Swiss Federal Constitution).
Diversity processes
Diversity processes are long-term approaches to changes within institutions and organisations in the area of diversity. The aim of a diversity process is to achieve a structural dismantling of discrimination and of the barriers resulting from such discrimination. In the cultural sector, the focus is normally on long-term diversification in the area of the «three Ps»:
personnel (who is working in the cultural sector?)
programmes (what is being offered, who is being supported?)
public (which sectors of the public have access to the content on offer?)
© Photography and montage: Nadia Lanfranchi & Nina Oppliger / Theater Chur
