Our Offices & Partners Abroad

initiated

  • Live Art Workshop, Acts of Transmission
  • Dhaka Arts Summit, Sustainable Exhibition Design
  • Nicolas Polli – HomeLife StillLife
  • Jolie Vue Festival, re|sound
  • C-Sides 2020
  • Lucerne Festival – Life Is Live
  • Association Insurbordinations – Projet_8
  • Julia Seemann, Julia Seemann Presents Body Sensations Live from Earth
  • Veronika Spierenburg, Mass Files
  • Associazione Crile, Audiodanses
  • V XX ZWEETZ, Luminanza
  • Helsinki mini-festival, re|sound
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Nouvelles approches: un laboratoire d’expérimentation théâtrale en temps de crise
  • Cibele Residency at Atelier Mondial
  • Nicole Bachmann, On Sight/Site
  • Lyrical Valley Association, Close Poetry: La poésie suisse à portée de main
  • Helvetiarockt – der Verein, Téléphoner!
  • IIPM – International Institute of Political Murder, Büro für transnationalen Finanzausgleich
  • Association Dreams Come True / Yan Duyvendak, VIRUS#VIRUS
  • Francesca Ceccherini, OTO SOUND MUSEUM
  • Critical Conditions
  • Inlusio Interactive, Cora – Eine spielerische und poetische Reflexion über Mobilität mit offenem Ende
  • Belluard Bollwerk, Nous sommes des monstres qui vous parlent
  • Marion Regenscheit, Zusammen lesen
  • Now On
  • Nina Roehrs, FitArt
  • Raw and Radical Women in the Arts
  • Hannah Weinberger, we didn’t want to leave
  • Festival Label Suisse
  • Nele Dechmann, Fake Storefront
  • Dharmendra Prasad, Home-not-alone residency

digitalised

  • Foodculture days 2020
  • Südpol Luzern, Be Arielle F.
  • Supernova Podcast
  • Solothurner Literaturtage
  • European Poetry Festival
  • Berner Lesefest Aprillen
  • Europäische Literaturtage 2020
  • IN/OUT Festival – Incidências Sonoras
  • Eventi letterari Monte Verità
  • Internationales Lyrikfestival Meridan
  • Poetry on the Road
  • Nik Bärtsch at Kolkata Jazz Festival
  • Tohuwabohu Live Stream Festival, 2020
  • Open-Ended Encounters – AAREA
  • Prosanova Festival
  • Opening activities Race & Fiction – PLANTA
  • Opening activities Prácticas (CO) – Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral
  • El Caldo Gessnerallee
  • Ludicious 2020
  • Ursula Biemann, Mirarnos a los ojos (back to) – Online Biennial of the Moving Image
  • reMusik.org St. Petersburg
  • Showcases @ London Jazz Festival
  • Nordic Games 2020
  • Alexandra Bachzetsis, Private Song
  • Gamescom 2020

cancelled

  • Les Rencontres internationales de la photographie, Arles
  • Outrage au public by Compagnie Emilie Charriot
  • Festival du livre suisse
  • BuchBasel
  • Schweizer Buchpreis 2020: Lesetour der Nominierten
  • Italienisches Literaturfestival München
  • Literaturhaus Hamburg: Peter Stamm, Wenn es dunkel wird
  • Salon du livre de Turin
  • Mousonturm
  • Italienisches Literaturfestival München
  • Nuits de la Poésie
  • Festival inCerti Luoghi
  • Rue des livres
  • CH Abend im neuen Schauspiel Leipzig
  • Festival des cinq continents
  • Quai du polar
  • Littérature et Europe
  • Game Developers Conference 2020
  • Swiss participation at Serendipity Festival
  • Swiss participation at Jazzmandu
  • Bay Are Book Festival
  • Design Saturdays
  • Nevercrew at Street Art Festival
  • Bad Bonn Kilbi
  • Convulsif,Japan 2020
  • Cyril Cyril
  • Les jardins musicaux
  • Milano Design Week 2020
  • Festival du livre suisse
  • Hors Normes Festival

postponed

  • Lesereise Michèle Minelli
  • The Beauty Of Gemina, Skeleton Dreams Tournee 2020
  • Ein Winter in Istanbul
  • Grosse Stimmung von Edu Haubensak @ Ruhrtriennale
  • Diver Festival in Tel Aviv
  • After Spring Festival
  • ImPulsTanz Festival, Fokus Schweiz
  • Swiss Selection Edinburgh
  • Histoire du Judaïsme
  • Till Langschied, Katrin Niedermeier, Harddiskmuseum Tech Art Lab Session
  • Nature of Robotics: An Expanded Field
  • Aha Festival – Ein Festival für Wissen
  • LitteraturA Nairs
  • Biennale Venedig
  • Nothing Left by Tabea Martin
  • Swiss Dance Days
  • Selection Suisse en Avignon
  • Swiss participation at Kochi Biennale
  • Bieler Fototage
  • Môtiers – Art en plein air 2021
  • Paris Frankfurt Fellowship
  • Schwerpunkt CH Buchmesse
  • Literarische Arena
  • The Most Beautiful Swiss Book in China
  • Prosafestival Innsbruck
  • 43. Innsbrucker Wochenendgespräche, Film: Lorenz Langenegger
  • Shenzhen Creative Week 2020
  • Antigone in the Amazon – Milo Rau & IIPM

Preface by Charles Beer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Between resistance and resilience, cultural actors are adapting and innovating to cope with the pandemic. Coronavirus left its mark on the world in 2020 and also shook cultural life in all its dimensions, foremost by suspending public gatherings, which resulted in a cessation of activities and the dramatic rise of precarious conditions.

Culture is not simply another economic sector. It is highly complex and offers little social protection to those who shape it. Culture is not simply a good like any other as the different lockdown phases across the world have explicitly illustrated: in fact, culture is essential to life, a condition of survival and constitutive of our humanity.

Culture is a fundamental pillar of today’s societies and above all of our democracies. It provides care, social ties and meaning. Political debate and public addresses have repeatedly highlighted this, emphasising the need for a paradigm shift in the way we operate, a break with the rationale and short-term profits characterising contemporary globalisation.

Action must follow words. We cannot be guided by nostalgia. We need to paint a different future, one that breaks with the multiple logics of domination. In this respect, culture will also have to rethink some of its functions. And it may do so by critically questioning facts and circumstances, by developing new formats and deepening its engagement. Pro Helvetia contributes to this process, through its history, marked by continuity and adaptation, and through its expertise and the support it both receives and provides. It fulfils its mission and adapts its measures to meet the demands of the times. For us, too, it is a matter of reaching beyond a short-term vision to strengthen the social protection of cultural practitioners and to place our actions in a structuring perspective, such that the fertile common path of the cultural community and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia may long continue.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I wish to extend our profound gratitude to the directorate and staff of Pro Helvetia worldwide, as well as to all artists and cultural practitioners. Thank you for your commitment, trust and support.

Preface by Philippe Bischof, Director

The year 2020 was not only exceptional, but arguably a turning point. Even now, we remain caught up in the pandemic and its effects. We are aware that the world — and of course the cultural sector — will look different in the future than before the outbreak of coronavirus. How – remains uncertain. Perhaps you too have been startled, while reading a recently published book or looking at older pictures and photographs, by scenes taken for granted before Covid-19: embraces, nights out dancing, cooking with friends or simply setting off on holiday to a faraway country. The new circumstances — of proximity and distance, the hybrid state of physical and virtual reality — are beginning to displace the familiar. They are leaving mental traces and could permanently change previous ways of functioning.

The brutal effect of the pandemic, which reflects the previous flaws in our system, became evident — no sooner did the global cultural machine begin stuttering — in the fragile and precarious working and living conditions of cultural practitioners and cultural institutions. What we experienced in the cultural sector in Switzerland and in all our partner countries last year moved and shook us. Seldom had the political task of supporting and promoting culture made so much sense and taken on such urgency as in 2020, triggering fundamental questions worldwide. For the Swiss Arts Council, this means a tremendous obligation, which we have fulfilled and will continue to fulfil with tireless commitment. With all the means at our disposal, we will contribute to focusing attention on the future beyond these difficult times. Because ultimately it is a matter of preparing the future, for which we all bear responsibility, creatively and lastingly.

At the onset of Covid-19, premature claims were heard that the pandemic would affect everyone equally. All too soon, however, it became painfully clear that coronavirus would have profound, at times even irreparable societal effects that would further exacerbate existing inequalities. Covid-19 has highlighted, besides causing personal and family suffering, societal tensions as well as geographical and political differences that are too often overlooked. We are therefore particularly concerned about all those who are socially, economically and politically disadvantaged — which, unfortunately, includes many partners of Swiss cultural practitioners across the world, not least in regions where Pro Helvetia has offices abroad. We are closely monitoring developments in our partner regions, with which many Swiss cultural practitioners maintain working relationships. Alas, we must fear losing valuable partner institutions, long-standing and important places of cultural exchange and artistic experimentation. And yet, we know that cultural practitioners across the world will continue to create and develop new works and projects thanks to their strength, creative spirit and commitment. New formats can now emerge, as well as new forms of collaboration and exchange that will extend far beyond the pandemic.

We find ourselves in a time of transition and transformation with an uncertain outcome that we are all trying to better understand and navigate. The cultural landscape is changed and changing. Our core task is to recognise those paths emerging amid the new cultural topographies that will lead cultural practitioners forward. We will do everything to master this task — here in Switzerland as well as in our wider global network.

Our mission in Switzerland

In 2020, Pro Helvetia supported over 1600 art and cultural projects across Switzerland. Supporting Swiss artistic creation in all its diversity and ensuring its dissemination across Switzerland’s different language regions, both on the basis of applications, are Pro Helvetia’s core activities. The Arts Council is also committed to giving new impetus to cultural life and to supporting projects of national significance.

The 2020 corona crisis significantly impacted cultural life. Pandemic-related constraints and the cancellation of most events and activities led artists and institutions to develop new strategies and formats. Pro Helvetia adapted its funding measures in response to the constantly changing circumstances.

Supporting creation Granting financial support to help artists produce original works of art.

Sample projects 2020

In Supporting creation, Pro Helvetia promotes the diversity and high quality of contemporary art in Switzerland in the visual arts, performing arts, literature and music, design and interactive media, as well as interdisciplinary projects. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the budgets for performances and concerts were partly reallocated to support composition, the recording of works and research (particularly in the divisions of Music and Dance & Theatre). In order to launch a call for applications aimed at supporting comic books, the Literature and Visual Arts Divisions aligned existing measures, with remarkable success (nearly 61 projects were received, of which 10 were funded). Among others, the Visual Arts Division supported Zurich artist Sally Schonfeldt’s «Tuning into future symphonies of return», a project exploring future strategies for decolonising Swiss and European ethnographic museums by creating imaginary Euro-futuristic museum exhibitions.

Exchange and promotion Supporting artistic projects that promote exchange between regions and strengthen social cohesion.

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia fosters artistic and cultural exchange between the various regions of Switzerland. The exhibitions, theatre and dance productions, festivals, concert cycles, translations or folk culture events backed by Pro Helvetia build bridges between different linguistic regions and cultural communities and thereby strengthen social cohesion. While traditionally hosting the guest country of Frankfurt Book Fair, the Zofingen Literature Days adapted to public health measures by honouring sixteen Swiss authors. The event marked a unique opportunity to discover the wealth of national literature. The Dance & Theatre Division also initiated projects for emerging artists, enabling participants to travel to other language regions in Switzerland. Theatre for young audiences was also given special attention, among others, by supporting the «Jungspund» festival (St. Gallen). Funded projects also included the «Cima Norma Art Festival», an interdisciplinary event (visual arts, music, literature) in Val Blenio (Ticino).

Supporting emerging artists Enabling emerging artists to access the professional arts scene.

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia supports emerging artists and helps them gain a foothold in their professional scenes. Together with its partner institutions, Pro Helvetia offers residencies and coaching programmes, as well as grants for public presentations and promotional measures. For the first time, the Dance & Theatre Division invited theatres and festivals to discuss ways of supporting the next generation of contemporary circus. Two projects will be implemented in 2021. The Literature Division supported AJAR, a literary collective of 23 young authors from French-speaking Switzerland. Given the very few female music producers in Switzerland, Helvetiarockt has been organising the Female* Producing Circle since the beginning of 2019. The programme enables emerging producers to develop their skills over a one-year period and provides them with financial support, networking opportunities and coaching. In 2020, the Music Division supported this programme for the first time.

Stimulating culture Supporting projects that provide fresh artistic or cultural stimulus.

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia responds to issues and trends in contemporary artistic creation and backs innovative projects able to provide fresh cultural stimulus in Switzerland. The 2020 corona crisis prompted the Arts Council to adapt its funding measures through new initiatives. Launched in April, «Close Distance», the transdisciplinary call for projects, sought new formats to enable the production and dissemination of artistic works despite restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly. The call supported nearly 60 projects, online or analogue, in the Visual Arts («Oto Sound Museum» by Francesca Ceccherini), Music («Projet_8» by the Association Insubordinations), Performing Arts («virus#virus» by Yan Duyvendak Cie) and Literature («60 Sekunden hören» by the duo Blablabor). Various other calls and measures were launched to best support artists in coping with the changed conditions for artistic and cultural creation imposed by unprecedented events: «Book Promotion +» (Literature), «re|sound» (Music), «Architecture Matters» (Visual Arts), «Contributions to Research» and «restart» (Dance & Theatre).

Cultural outreach Promoting innovative and exemplary projects that enable broad audiences to critically engage with art and culture.

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia supports Cultural outreach projects that are exemplary, demonstrate an innovative approach and encourage critical reflection on art and culture. In 2020, support was given to «Art’s cool», a project that transcends geographical, generational, social and linguistic boundaries. Every week, the series of bilingual podcasts (in French and German) presents a recently created work of art, which is on display at the time of the broadcast and provides a space for exchange and discussion designed to connect the museum with the outside world.

Our mission abroad

In 2020, Pro Helvetia supported over 2400 arts and cultural projects in 105 countries. Pro Helvetia provides support on the basis of applications for the presentation of Swiss artistic projects abroad. It also promotes Swiss art and culture in an international context, including various platforms such as trade fairs and biennials. Its global network and country programmes foster cultural exchange with other cultural regions.

Restrictions on freedom of movement — in particular the impossibility of physically crossing borders — also brought forth new formats, among those affected and at Pro Helvetia.

Dissemination Promoting the presence of Swiss artists and cultural practitioners and the international dissemination of their works.

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia supports the dissemination of works by Swiss artists and cultural practitioners invited by renowned institutions, event organisers or festivals abroad. Funding is provided for theatre and dance productions, concert tours, readings, exhibitions and the publication of translations of Swiss literature. In 2020, the Music Division funded Swiss composer Edu Haubensak’s «Grosse Stimmung» at the «Wien Modern» festival while the Visual Arts Division supported an exhibition by visual artists Dorota Gawęda and Eglė Kulbokaitė at Budapest’s Trafó Gallery.

Promotion Taking measures to network and promote Swiss art and culture among international organisers and professionals.

Sample projects 2020

The Arts Council implements a wide range of promotional measures to raise awareness of Swiss cultural production among Swiss and foreign professionals. Following the cancellation of major physical events such as «GDC – Game Developers Conference» (San Francisco) or «Gamescom» (Cologne) due to the pandemic, the online mentoring programme «SwissGames Showcase 2020» was launched as part of the «Culture and Business» focus. This gave Swiss studios access to a panel of international experts and their network for coaching sessions. The online platform «Translate Swiss Books» replaced the publication «12 Swiss Books» to provide publishers, translators, organizers and other professionals in the book industry with online access to targeted recommendations on contemporary Swiss literature and to respond to cancelled international book and literature fairs.

Swiss participation Sponsoring Swiss participation and special features on Swiss creation at internationally renowned events.

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia organises and sponsors swiss participation and special features on Swiss creation at numerous internationally renowned events, fairs and biennials. While the 17th International Architecture Exhibition (La Biennale di Venezia), scheduled to start in May 2020, had to be postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic, the festivals in Angoulême (France) and «Eurosonic» in Groningen (Netherlands), held in January, welcomed a Swiss booth titled «Réseau BD Suisse» as well as 22 Swiss artists and groups. By hosting Switzerland as a guest country under the heading «A Taste of Swiss Music», «Eurosonic» was a flagship event in 2020 for the Music Division. A few adaptions and valuable collaborations enabled Swiss artists to participate at various other international events. The exhibition «Design Switzerland», for instance, presented the work of nine Swiss design studios in September as part of «Vienna Design Week», without the designers having to be present at the event.

International cultural exchange Fostering knowledge exchange between Swiss and international arts practitioners.

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia encourages exchange with other cultures, in particular through residencies, knowledge exchange and cooperation projects. These measures enable Swiss artists and cultural practitioners to expand their network, explore other cultural contexts and gain new professional experience. In 2020, the pandemic prevented the Zürcher Theater Spektakel from presenting its usual programme. Instead, it hosted an online conference on «How to be together? Conversations on International Exchange and Collaboration in the Performing Arts». The three-day event was structured around different themes linked to the extraordinary global situation, while questioning the practices of an artistic discipline most often involving direct contact. This also applied to «Contemporary Art Biennials: Our Hegemonic Machines in States of Emergency», an online conference organised as part of Bucharest Biennale. Sessions focused on biennials as «hegemonic machines», particularly their advantages and pitfalls, as well as how they might be used progressively while strengthening their potential for exchange.

New networks, regions and markets Opening up networks, regions and markets with potential for Swiss arts practitioners.

Sample projects 2020

Finally, Pro Helvetia targets new networks, regions and markets in which it identifies opportunities for intensifying exchange and for strengthening the presence of Swiss art and culture, in particular by initiating partnerships with regional organisers. In January, for example, five young designers attended the «Swiss Design Accelerator» in San Francisco. Organised as part of the «Culture & Business» focus, the programme also included tailored coaching, skills development and matchmaking sessions, organised in partnership with swissnex San Francisco and the Swiss Design Prize. The «Fringe» performing arts festival in Edinburgh (Scotland) was cancelled due to Covid-19, meaning the second edition of the «Swiss Selection» could not take place. To make up for this, the Dance & Theatre Division organised virtual residencies for three Swiss companies (Ntando Cele, Trân Tran and Alan Alpenfelt) in three locations in the UK (London’s Royal Court, Manchester’s Home and Brighton’s Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts).

Our global network

Pro Helvetia’s global network includes five liaison offices, the Centre culturel suisse in Paris and several partner institutions. During the reporting year, Pro Helvetia’s liaison offices established new partnerships in various countries, to help access new regions and markets for cultural exchange and the dissemination of Swiss culture. A new liaison office in the South American region was opened at the beginning of 2021 thanks to the successful development work carried out as part of the «Coincidencia– Swiss & South American Cultural Exchanges» programme (2017–2020).

In response to the global health crisis, and to maintain international collaborations while testing new formats, most of our liaison offices developed calls for projects adapted to the circumstances prevailing in 2020. In addition to «Breathing Space» and «now on» (see below), «FastForwART» was initiated by Pro Helvetia Moscow, «Folding the Axis» by Pro Helvetia Shanghai and «Parallel Sphere» by Pro Helvetia Cairo.

Sample projects 2020

At the beginning of 2020, Pro Helvetia Johannesburg supported the collaboration of musicians and artists Lilian Beidler (Switzerland) and Mpho Molikeng (Lesotho). Their series of interdisciplinary performances in Switzerland and Lesotho was inspired by the life and work of the Swiss missionary and physician Bertha Hardegger. In response to the pandemic, the office partnered the Basel-based Levedo Foundation to establish an emergency fund for over 350 jazz musicians in South Africa. It also helped develop and launch the «Home Not Alone» residency format with other liaison offices. The office continued extending its geographical reach, by appointing new team members in West and East Africa and by launching the «Breathing Space» call for applications with new partners in these regions.

Since 1998, the liaison office in Johannesburg is a stable anchor point that enables Pro Helvetia to pursue its mission of promoting Swiss art and culture in Southern Africa.
johannesburg.prohelvetia.org

Sample projects 2020

Supported by Pro Helvetia Cairo , choreographer and dancer Guilherme Botelho’s company Alias collaborated with the MAAT Dance Company | Cairo Contemporary Dance Center on two workshops involving thirteen Egyptian dancers to create Alias’s new production «Sideways Rain». Artist- in-residence Camille Dumond presented her findings on translation and transcription in her exhibition «Eye Archive» in Rabat (Morocco). Open to residents from the Arab world, the second edition of the «Live Praxes» seminar, dedicated to the «spoken word», was held online. Titled «Written to Be Spoken», the event attracted nineteen participants from Egypt, Palestine and Morocco with different artistic and research backgrounds.

Since 1988, the liaison office in Cairo is a stable anchor point that enables Pro Helvetia to pursue its mission of promoting Swiss art and culture in the Arab world.
prohelvetia.org.eg

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia Moscow supported «Inspired by Switzerland», an exhibition at the Russian Museum of Decorative Arts inviting twelve young Swiss designers to explore Swissidentity. A special issue of the Russian magazine «Inostrannaya Literatura» («Foreign Literature»), dedicated to contemporary Swiss literature, was also published in 2020, while Swiss composer Oscar Bianchi participated in an online workshop on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Tchaikovsky’s International Academy for Young Composers (Perm Province).

Since 2017, the liaison office in Moscow is a stable anchor point that enables Pro Helvetia to pursue its mission of promoting Swiss art and culture in Russia.
prohelvetia.ru

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia New Delhi launched «now on», an interdisciplinary call for projects aimed at supporting innovative formats responding to the pandemic. Eight projects were supported, among others, from the fields of photography, contemporary dance and design. The office also supported Christoph Leuenberger and Kolatt’s performance «Desire & Discipline» at Yangon Pride (Burma) and the Srijan-Abartan exhibition on sustainable creation at Dhaka Art Summit in collaboration with the Samdani Art Foundation.

Since 2007, the liaison office in New Delhi is a stable anchor point that enables Pro Helvetia to pursue its mission of promoting Swiss art and culture in South Asia.
prohelvetia.in

Sample projects 2020

Pro Helvetia Shanghai enabled the remote participation of Chinese artists Zhao Chuan and Chen Keng in performances by Dino Radoncic and Nathalie Stirnimann & Stefan Stojanovic, respectively, as part of «Acts of Transmission», organised by «Partout», the Swiss performing arts platform. The office also supported «psD Against the Epidemic», an exhibition initially held online, later on three floors of Shanghai’s Power Station of Art Museum and involving two Swiss-based design studios (Neo Neo and oficio). Eight of Swiss cartoonist Albertine’s children’s books were translated into Chinese (with the support of Pro Helvetia Shanghai) and published by Guangxi Normal University Press.

Since 2010, the liaison office in Shanghai is a stable anchor point that enables Pro Helvetia to pursue its mission of promoting Swiss art and culture in China.
prohelvetia.cn

Sample projects 2020

Organised with the support of Coincidencia, the South American online music festival «In/Out» presented eleven projects created by different collectives, institutes, labels, festivals, residencies and platforms from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay. The event invited reflection on the pandemic, on establishing different types of collaboration and on including minorities impacted by the pandemic. Coincidencia also organised «Conversas Diversas», a series of online conversations linking artists, collectives and events from Switzerland and South America. Finally, a series of webinars (online conferences) accompanied the activities surrounding the launch of Pro Helvetia’s liaison office in South America that opened in 2021.

A new liaison office in the South American region was opened at the beginning of 2021 thanks to the successful development work carried out as part of the «Coincidencia – Swiss & South American Cultural Exchanges» programme (2017–2020).
southamerica.prohelvetia.org

Sample projects 2020

The Centre Culturel Suisse (CCS) in Paris enabled its audience to stay connected with arts and cultural creation during lockdown through its weekly newsletter «à voir, lire et écouter chez vous». Fortunately, some events could be attended physically, including the exhibition of researcher and visual artist Ursula Biemann, held in collaboration with MAMAC, Nice and Manifesta 13 Marseille – Les Parallèles du Sud. «Cirque suisse, focus sur la jeune création» also took place, albeit in a purely professional context, with the participation of Arno Ferrara, Mika Lafforgue, Marc Oosterhoff, Julian Vogel and La Horde dans les pavés.

Funded by Pro Helvetia, the Centre culturel suisse (CCS) in Paris is dedicated to promoting contemporary Swiss creation in France while supporting exchange between the countries’ artistic scenes.
ccsparis.com

Impressions 2020

Teresa Vitucci presented her performance «All Eyes On» at the Centre culturel suisse in Paris as a carte blanche.
Nicolas Polli’s installation «The Past Is an Old Future» was part of the group exhibition «Handle with Care» at the Musei Comunali d’Arte di Ascona.

«On behalf of the federal government, Suisseculture Sociale processed 4051 applications from musicians, singers, visual artists, dancers, actors and actresses, authors, lighting and sound technicians, outreach professionals and many other cultural practitioners and workers. These requests for support impressively demonstrate the diversity of the Swiss cultural landscape, which has ground almost to a complete standstill since 2020. This wealth must now be kept alive and reactivated as soon as possible!»

Nicole Pfister Fetz
Head of Operations A*dS Autorinnen und Autoren der Schweiz and President of Suisseculture Sociale
Following the cancellation of the «Fringe» Festival (Edinburgh), the Dance & Theatre Division organised virtual residencies, including Ntando Cele’s stay at the Royal Court (London).
Initiated by Pro Helvetia Shanghai, the exhibition «Between Mountains, Hills and Lakes» presented the work of seven Swiss and two Chinese photographers in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing.
The «SwissGames Showcase 2020» enabled eleven Swiss studios, including Digital Kingdom with their game «Swordship», to be coached online by a panel of experts.
Photographer Batia Suter’s «Ice, Birds and Fire» was presented at the 2020 edition of Images Vevey.

«These long months during which theatres have remained closed to the public remind us of the importance and necessity of both this art and these places, where we can gather, connect with others and the world, explore political or philosophical ideas, question our society and our times, and dream about our future. Theatre offers a collective, sensitive, free and lively artistic experience that I believe must be shared with as many people as possible.»

Vincent Baudriller
Director, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
While «Delémont’BD Hors les murs» cancelled its usual format, the festival invited eighteen cartoonists from French-speaking Switzerland to share their vision of a new world on large-scale posters.
Organised by «Partout», the Swiss performance platform, «Acts of Transmission» enabled Chinese artists to engage in an artistic dialogue with Swiss counterparts.

«Being a visual artist and performer is a conscious personal choice, and means nothing can be taken for granted. This became more evident than usual during the pandemic. For months, we have committed ourselves fully and with all our aspirations to art’s engagement with the world. This is vital, but never simply given.»

Katja Schenker
Artist
The author Jean-Pierre Rochat, winner of a writing grant for «Roman de gares», published in 2020.
Switzerland’s appearance as the guest country at «Vienna Design Week» enabled «Design Switzerland» to present the work of nine young studios.
Switzerland appeared as the guest country at the «Eurosonic» festival (Groningen, Netherlands) under the heading «A Taste of Swiss Music». The artists presented included Swiss Canadian Camilla Sparksss.
An image that became the norm in 2020 (here at Verveine’s concert at the «Label Suisse» festival in Lausanne).
Initiated in March 2020 when the world entered lockdown, the «Viral» online literature festival featured livestream readings of works from Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

«Lockdown has raised many interesting questions about the value of culture in Switzerland. As independent musicians, we are all affected by the ban on events. Thanks to the tremendous commitment of Sonart and Pro Helvetia, we have managed to cover part of the losses. But the crisis has also shown that we need to unite even more strongly as a professional group if we wish to be seen as an important part of society.»

Kali Trio
Supported by the 2020–2022 High-Priority Jazz Promotion Fund
Swiss artist Sarah Burger presented her installation «(un)earthed» at the «RIXC Art Science Festival 2020» in Riga (Latvia).
Rimini Protokoll’s presented their immersive performance «Call Cutta at Home» at the «Access Point» festival in St Petersburg (Russia).
Co-organised by Coincidencia, «Virtual Crossings Buenos Aires–Geneva» brought together in virtual space two dancers in Buenos Aires and one dancer in Geneva in the studios of the Gilles Jobin Company.
Teresa Vitucci presented her performance «All Eyes On» at the Centre culturel suisse in Paris as a carte blanche.
Nicolas Polli’s installation «The Past Is an Old Future» was part of the group exhibition «Handle with Care» at the Musei Comunali d’Arte di Ascona.

«On behalf of the federal government, Suisseculture Sociale processed 4051 applications from musicians, singers, visual artists, dancers, actors and actresses, authors, lighting and sound technicians, outreach professionals and many other cultural practitioners and workers. These requests for support impressively demonstrate the diversity of the Swiss cultural landscape, which has ground almost to a complete standstill since 2020. This wealth must now be kept alive and reactivated as soon as possible!»

Nicole Pfister Fetz
Head of Operations A*dS Autorinnen und Autoren der Schweiz and President of Suisseculture Sociale
Following the cancellation of the «Fringe» Festival (Edinburgh), the Dance & Theatre Division organised virtual residencies, including Ntando Cele’s stay at the Royal Court (London).
Initiated by Pro Helvetia Shanghai, the exhibition «Between Mountains, Hills and Lakes» presented the work of seven Swiss and two Chinese photographers in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing.
The «SwissGames Showcase 2020» enabled eleven Swiss studios, including Digital Kingdom with their game «Swordship», to be coached online by a panel of experts.
Photographer Batia Suter’s «Ice, Birds and Fire» was presented at the 2020 edition of Images Vevey.

«These long months during which theatres have remained closed to the public remind us of the importance and necessity of both this art and these places, where we can gather, connect with others and the world, explore political or philosophical ideas, question our society and our times, and dream about our future. Theatre offers a collective, sensitive, free and lively artistic experience that I believe must be shared with as many people as possible.»

Vincent Baudriller
Director, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
While «Delémont’BD Hors les murs» cancelled its usual format, the festival invited eighteen cartoonists from French-speaking Switzerland to share their vision of a new world on large-scale posters.
Organised by «Partout», the Swiss performance platform, «Acts of Transmission» enabled Chinese artists to engage in an artistic dialogue with Swiss counterparts.

«Being a visual artist and performer is a conscious personal choice, and means nothing can be taken for granted. This became more evident than usual during the pandemic. For months, we have committed ourselves fully and with all our aspirations to art’s engagement with the world. This is vital, but never simply given.»

Katja Schenker
Artist
The author Jean-Pierre Rochat, winner of a writing grant for «Roman de gares», published in 2020.
Switzerland’s appearance as the guest country at «Vienna Design Week» enabled «Design Switzerland» to present the work of nine young studios.
Switzerland appeared as the guest country at the «Eurosonic» festival (Groningen, Netherlands) under the heading «A Taste of Swiss Music». The artists presented included Swiss Canadian Camilla Sparksss.
An image that became the norm in 2020 (here at Verveine’s concert at the «Label Suisse» festival in Lausanne).
Initiated in March 2020 when the world entered lockdown, the «Viral» online literature festival featured livestream readings of works from Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

«Lockdown has raised many interesting questions about the value of culture in Switzerland. As independent musicians, we are all affected by the ban on events. Thanks to the tremendous commitment of Sonart and Pro Helvetia, we have managed to cover part of the losses. But the crisis has also shown that we need to unite even more strongly as a professional group if we wish to be seen as an important part of society.»

Kali Trio
Supported by the 2020–2022 High-Priority Jazz Promotion Fund
Swiss artist Sarah Burger presented her installation «(un)earthed» at the «RIXC Art Science Festival 2020» in Riga (Latvia).
Rimini Protokoll’s presented their immersive performance «Call Cutta at Home» at the «Access Point» festival in St Petersburg (Russia).
Co-organised by Coincidencia, «Virtual Crossings Buenos Aires–Geneva» brought together in virtual space two dancers in Buenos Aires and one dancer in Geneva in the studios of the Gilles Jobin Company.

Facts and figures

Of the CHF 43.4 million available to Pro Helvetia in 2020, 86.6 per cent were invested directly in arts and cultural activities. At 13.4 per cent, the share of adminis- trative costs was, as in previous years, well below the federal government’s strategic target of 15 per cent. In 2020, Pro Helvetia received 450 more applications than in 2019, an increase due, among other factors, to the additional calls issued in connection with Covid-19. At the same time, the share of approved applications dropped by around 10 per cent to 38.9 per cent.

Culture as the highest priority

  • Cultural information
  • Stimulus and exchange programmes
  • Projects of offices abroad
  • Projects resulting from applications

Of the CHF 43.4 million spent by Pro Helvetia in 2020, 86.6 per cent went directly to cultural activities. Administrative costs (13.4%), calculated based on Zewo standards, remained clearly below the strategic threshold of 15 per cent prescribed by the Swiss Confederation.

Applicants projects 28.9 m
Projects of offices abroad 6.6 m
Stimulus and exchange programmes 1.3 m
Cultural information 0.8 m
Administration 5.8 m
Amounts spent in CHF
In the context of the Federal Cultural Policy Statement (Kulturbotschaft), Swiss Parliament grants Pro Helvetia a framework budget every four years. The Arts Council received CHF 210.9 million for the 2016–2020 period. Following budget cuts, the 2020 instalment of CHF 44.6 million was reduced to CHF 42.7 million.

Overview of applications received

In 2020, Pro Helvetia received 5798 applications. Support was granted to projects in the fields of interactive Media & Design, Innovation & Society, Dance, Literature and Society, Music, Dance & Theatre, Visual Arts and — subsumed under the umbrella term «interdisciplinarity» — to projects involving multiple disciplines.

No Pro Helvetia funding decision was appealed in 2020.

Development of the number of applications

  • Applications received
  • Applications accepted
  • Percentage of applications accepted

In 2020, the share of approved applications fell by around 10 per cent to 38.9 per cent compared to the previous year. At the same time, the number of applications received increased compared to previous years. Due to the «extraordinary circumstances» impacting the cultural sector during Covid-19, additional cross-sectoral and sector-specific calls for applications were launched. The decreased number of approved applications is primarily due to the large number of additional calls for applications, whose approval rates were lower than those of the regular calls.

Supporting diversity

  • Swiss population by language region Federal Statistical Office (as at 2018)
  • Project funds granted

Support granted by Pro Helvetia takes into account Switzerland’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Support across Switzerland

During Covid-19, Pro Helvetia adapted its funding practice as far as possible to the prevailing circumstances. The pandemic prevented various cultural projects from going ahead as planned. Funded projects therefore also include ones having to be postponed or for which another format (e.g. online) had to be found at short notice. In the case of projects cancelled due to Covid-19, Pro Helvetia covered the costs incurred up to maximally the amount of prospective funding.

Promoting Swiss culture around the world

Besides its domestic activities, in 2020, Pro Helvetia supported over 2400 Swiss art and cultural projects in 105 countries.

Evaluation

Pro Helvetia regularly evaluates its most important programmes and promotional measures. In 2020, the Arts Council commissioned a review of its performance agreements with «Reso – Tanznetzwerk Schweiz» and with Pro Helvetia’s Kleinkunstfonds. Evaluations provide important information on the quality of the various funding measures and on any need for adjustment.

Reso – Tanznetzwerk Schweiz

«Reso – Tanznetzwerk Schweiz» was founded in 2006 to promote dance in Switzerland through specific projects and to better anchor the field in society. Pro Helvetia has supported «Reso» on a project basis ever since its launch and through a four-year performance agreement since 2012.

The 2020 evaluation examined the development of «Reso» and its impact on its environment. Both the conducted projects and exchange within the network were rated positively.

Based on these results, Pro Helvetia has decided to support «Reso» for another four years via an adjusted performance agreement. In future, Pro Helvetia’s support will focus more on launching projects providing new impetus.

Kleinkunstfonds Pro Helvetia

From 2021, Pro Helvetia will merge the various subsectors of the performing arts (dance, theatre, contemporary circus, music theatre or street art) into a single division. This raised the question of how Kleinkunst should be supported in future. Pro Helvetia has so far backed this field through its Kleinkunstfond, delegated to «t. Theaterschaffende», the association of theatre professionals.

The 2020 evaluation revealed obvious contradictions between funding practices: While the Kleinkunstfonds focuses on supporting institutions, Pro Helvetia focuses on funding artists. These different approaches no longer seem effective, not least due to the increasing overlap between the various subsectors of the performing arts.

Pro Helvetia has therefore decided to discontinue the Kleinkunstfonds from 2021 and to provide regular funding for the sector through its Performing Arts Division (the former Dance & Theatre Division).

Annual report 2020 Print Download PDF
Organisation (As at 31 December 2020) Download PDF

Annual Report Archives 2016-2019

The annual report has been produced in English since 2016. To consult previous projects, please contact us at the address communication@prohelvetia.ch.