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Visual arts

Emerging artists: art fair presentation

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Target group
Institution outside Switzerland
Submission deadline
Open year-round

What

Presentation of emerging artists from Switzerland at major art fairs to enhance their international visibility and facilitate their access to the market.

For Whom

Commercial galleries

Selection Criteria

  • Gallery must have dealt mainly in contemporary art for at least two years
  • Regular participation in international art fairs
  • Regular hosting of exhibitions, with set opening times, in own premises
  • The work of emerging artists from Switzerland must account for at least 50% of the booth. Our criteria stipulate that emerging artists are those in the first five years of their artistic career. This is determined by the date of completion of their artistic training or, in the absence of a formal degree, by the date of the first public presentation of their work

In addition to these specific criteria, the apply.

Financial Contribution

Maximum grant CHF 8,000

  • Booth hire
  • Transport and insurance costs
  • Equipment hire
  • Travel costs of artists, photographers and architects
  • The application may be submitted to Pro Helvetia before applying to the art fair. In this case, the foundation will award the grant subject to confirmation of participation in the fair.

Content Of Application

  • Project description incl. booth layout
  • Copy of the application to participate in the art fair
  • Information on the gallery and the fair incl. date of the events
  • Information on the participating emerging artists from Switzerland (CV incl. information on the year of birth, dates of obtained higher education degree(s), and portfolio)
  • Budget and financial plan, including details of and justification for the funding requested

Application Deadlines and Decision Timelines

Submission deadlineOpen year-round
Earliest start date for the projectEight weeks after submitting the application
Notification of decisionWithin eight weeks
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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