Swiss Focus Performing Arts
Swiss dance and theatre companies frequently go on tour abroad. To keep this practice alive, Pro Helvetia invests a lot in international promotion. At the Avignon theatre festival, one of the most important get-togethers of the international theatre scene, we have launched a Swiss platform together with CORODIS (Commission romande de diffusion des spectacles). Called «Sélection Suisse en Avignon», it presents a curated pick of Swiss productions put together in collaboration with several renowned theatre companies.
There are numerous other places and times at which artists and curators from around the world gather and where we take the opportunity to present some Swiss highlights. From time to time, important festivals abroad have a special focus on Switzerland in their programme, among others, the Festival d’Automne in Paris, ImPulsTanz in Vienna and the Ruhrtriennale in Deutschland.
(Photo: Wouah Nicole Seiler © Julie Masson)
![Ruth Childs / Scarlett’s (CH/US): fantasia; [8:tension] Young Choreographers’ Series © Marie Magnin](https://prohelvetia.ch/app/uploads/2021/07/4-ruthchilds-fantasiacmariemagnin-04-370x245.jpg "Ruth Childs / Scarlett’s (CH/US): fantasia; [8:tension] Young Choreographers’ Series © Marie Magnin")
The Swiss Connection UK programme connects Swiss arts practitioners with the British scene. The aim is to enhance the presence of Swiss groups in the United Kingdom and to intensify cultural exchange between the two countries. Over the past few years, Swiss platforms in Edinburgh and London have been organised, as have virtual residencies, workshops and discussion rounds.
These activities have shown that there are distinct differences between the Swiss and British artistic scenes, be it in artistic expression, manners of production or relations with audiences. Pressing topics such as migration, diversity and audience development have been in the focus of performing arts in the UK for many years – a further reason for Swiss practitioners to actively pursue opportunities of exchange.
From 2023, online residencies set up during the Covid pandemic will be supplemented by residencies on site. Curator delegations will be expanded to include artists and producers, and the exchange will be conducted in both directions.
Calls for applications and the associated deadlines are regularly published on the Pro Helvetia website.
