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Environmental sustainability: event and/or work tool

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Target group
Institution in Switzerland
Submission deadline
Open year-round

Information  

This support measure is due to end on 31 December 2025. As of 1 January 2026, the new support measure ‘Event: culture in transition’ will be launched. This support measure will focus on cultural events that give fresh impetus to art and culture, and foster sustainable development in the Swiss cultural sector.

This means that applications which have not yet been finalised and definitively submitted must be submitted via the application portal by 31 December 2025, 23:59 at the latest. After this date, they can no longer be processed. Until that time, the deadlines and criteria for this support measure remain valid.

What

An event (in-person, digital or hybrid) – such as a workshop or discussion series – that aims to increase environmental sustainability in the cultural sector, and/or a practical work tool – such as a guide or checklist – for cultural institutions and organisations that want to promote environmental sustainability.

For Whom

Cultural institutions and organisations

Selection Criteria

  • Shows potential for structural change in the cultural sector
  • A model event or tool (applicability and/or scalability)
  • Project participants have expertise in the area of environmental sustainability
  • Implementation according to professional standards
  • Open to the public

In addition to these specific criteria, the apply.

Financial Contribution

Maximum grant of CHF 50,000. The grant may cover the following:

  • For an event: a contribution towards the conception costs (curating), fees for the invited experts in the area of environmental sustainability, or a contribution towards targeted communication measures
  • For a work tool: a contribution towards the concept design costs (publisher), the publication costs and/or translation costs.

Content Of Application

  • Description of the planned event concept (incl. final programme with all invitees)
  • Implementation plan
  • Budget and financial plan (incl. information regarding all financial assistance requested from third parties)
  • Current CV of the event organisers and invitees
  • In the case of an exclusively virtual event, a compelling national or international online strategy must be demonstrated
  • Additionally for a work tool: project description and PDF of the planned work tool

Format-specific Exclusion Criteria

  • Grants towards infrastructure, equipment and operating costs, as well as maintenance costs in the case of a digital format
  • Grants towards the presentation of artistic works (including exhibitions, performances, etc.)
  • Grants towards an event with outreach and/or an event that promotes the cause
  • Private event for an expert audience

Application Deadlines and Decision Timelines

Funding requests up to CHF 25,000Funding requests over CHF 25’000
Submission deadlineOpen year-roundOpen year-round
Earliest start date for the projectEight weeks after submitting the applicationFour months after submitting the application
Notification of decisionWithin eight weeksWithin four months
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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
  • the project requires travel to regions for which the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) advises against travel at the time of application.»

Status: September 2025