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Music

Ensembles: seasonal programme

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Target group
Practitioner with connection to Switzerland
Submission deadline
Open year-round

What

Seasonal programme of ensembles with at least three new productions or premieres by contemporary composers from Switzerland

For Whom

Established ensembles

Selection Criteria

The ensemble:

  • performs in various language regions of Switzerland and has an international presence
  • has a multi-year performance agreement with a canton, city or municipality
  • presents programmes in co-production with other institutions
  • pays appropriate fees, incl. social security contributions

The seasonal programme includes premieres by composers from Switzerland that are usually performed several times and have a balanced gender representation.

In addition to these specific criteria, the apply.

Financial Contribution

Grants for composition fees and performance costs

Content Of Application

  • Project description (concept and implementation)
  • Detailed programme
  • Details of the individuals involved
  • Date and venue of the events
  • Detailed budgets for the entire season and for the individual concerts with new productions or premieres by composers from Switzerland (incl. detailed information on staffing costs and social security contributions)
  • Detailed financing plan

Application Deadlines and Decision Timelines

Funding requests up to CHF 25,000Funding requests between CHF 25,001 and 50,000Funding requests over CHF 50’000
Submission deadlineOpen year-roundOpen year-round1 September
1 December
1 March
1 June
Earliest start date for the projectEight weeks after submitting the applicationFour months after submitting the applicationFour months after submitting the application
Notification of decisionWithin eight weeksWithin four monthsWithin four months

Additional Information

Nationally established ensembles with fewer than three new productions or premieres per season by composers from Switzerland who also don’t have a multi-year performance agreement can submit their projects via the ‘Creation and production: contemporary music’ funding programme.

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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