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Visual arts

Architecture: Response-Ability

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Target group
Practitioner with connection to Switzerland
Submission deadline
1 September, 23:59 (CEST)

What

Projects focused on experimentation, independent research, non-commercial initiatives, and collaborative approaches

Response-Ability is a pilot call based on the idea that architecture develops specific tools, methods, and techniques to respond to complex and sometimes urgent situations. It aims to support emerging architects who identify a specific problem and take responsive actions.

Each applicant is accompanied by a mentor of their choice, who provides support in technical, social, and theoretical areas, as well as in building professional networks. This person is chosen for their expertise and ability to enhance the project.

This call for applications seeks to offer emerging architects the opportunity to develop their practice and research outside of a commercial logic while encouraging critical thinking within the discipline.

For Whom

Emerging architects

Selection Criteria

  • High degree of originality and quality
  • Feasibility of the proposal
  • Importance of the work for the applicant’s professional development
  • Potential of public dissemination of the project (exhibition, publication, event, workshop, etc.)
  • Context-sensitive approach
  • Critical perspective on social issues and urgency of the topic (e.g., gender, class, ecology)
  • Pro Helvetia strives to achieve a diverse outcome of the call and reserves the right to give preference to projects proposed by under-represented applicants.

In addition to these specific criteria, the apply.

Financial Contribution

Contribution: CHF 20,000 per project

The contribution may be used to cover all costs that are necessary to realise the project, except for infrastructure, equipment, operating costs and maintenance costs for digital formats.

The mentor’s involvement is compensated with an additional amount of CHF 3,000.

Content Of Application

  • Concept (content, form and implementation of the project), including work plan and timeline
  • Strategy for public presentation
  • Budget and financial plan
  • Work documentation from the past few years and a CV including a list of previous public presentations in a single PDF
  • CVs of the relevant people involved

Format-specific Exclusion Criteria

The following are excluded:

  • projects taking place in an academic context or linked to a university exhibition space
  • projects that are part of an academic curriculum or training programme (regular or continuing)
  • commercial construction projects or projects submitted to a competition

Application Deadlines and Decision Timelines

Applications can be submitted from1 July
Submission deadline1 September, 23:59 (CEST)
Notification of decisionWithin 4 Months
Earliest start date for the project1 January

Decision-making processes

The applications will be assessed by a jury.

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General Requirements

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Introduction

Pro Helvetia promotes the professional contemporary Swiss art and cultural production (without film) with a view to diversity as well as national and international reach. It supports the creation of new artistic works and productions, the exchange between Switzerland’s various linguistic regions, the dissemination of Swiss art and culture outside Switzerland and international cultural exchange. As a national foundation, Pro Helvetia supplements the promotional activities of Swiss cantons and municipalities and only supports projects that are cross-regionally or internationally recognised.

Pro Helvetia will only consider funding applications if they are complete and have been submitted on time.

To be eligible for support, projects must

  • have a clear connection to Switzerland
  • be of nationwide importance
  • be adequately co-funded by other public or private means
  • respects/guarantee fair working conditions

Connection to Switzerland

A connection to Switzerland is given, if one of the following conditions is met:

  • The production or project in question is developed or implemented by artists and cultural practitioners, who verifiably hold Swiss citizenship or are permanent residents of Switzerland and who are regularly artistically involved in relevant events in Switzerland.
  • The project is created, developed, or implemented by an independent group or cultural institution whose place of production is in Switzerland and who is regularly and publicly active in Switzerland.

Nationwide relevance

Nationwide relevance is given, if one of the following conditions is met:

  • The art and cultural practitioners participating in the project are regularly involved in programmes of nationally recognised art and cultural institutions in Swiss regions other than their own or abroad, and the project in question has a transregional appeal.
  • The artistic potential of an emerging art practitioner involved is exceptional in terms of a national or international career.
  • The project makes a significant contribution to the development of Swiss artistic and cultural production and its dissemination.
  • The project is of significant importance for the exchange between Switzerland’s various linguistic regions.

Assessment of content and quality

Within the framework of the available funds, Pro Helvetia prioritises projects that most comprehensively meet the funding criteria. The Foundation assesses whether

  • the project demonstrates high degree of independence and professional competence as well as social and thematic relevance
  • the project is implemented according to professional standards
  • the costs are commensurate with the expected impact
  • a lasting impact can be expected

Furthermore, the Foundation attaches great importance to the following aspects:

  • The project has an appropriate commitment to diversity.
  • Resources are used in an ecologically responsible manner and work and production are planned sustainably.

Restrictions

Pro Helvetia is unable to consider funding requests if

  • the same part of the submitted project is already received funding from other federal bodies (e.g. Federal Office of Culture, Presence Switzerland, Swiss National Science Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation)
  • the project is part of a school or university curriculum/basic training or continuing education programme (including dissertations, diploma projects, university scholarships, etc.)
  • funding is intended to cover infrastructure and equipment costs, as well as the costs of operating cultural facilities, archives and collections
  • the project does not depend on funding from Pro Helvetia

Status: January 2024