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© Donia Jornod

All disciplines

Event: culture in transition

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Target group
Institution in Switzerland
Submission deadline
Open year-round

What

Themed, publicly accessible cultural event (in-person, virtual or hybrid) that gives fresh impetus to art and culture in Switzerland and/or promotes the sustainable development of the cultural sector, thereby promoting networking and dialogue between artists and experts from non-artistic fields

For Whom

Cultural institutions and organisations

Selection Criteria

  • Possible formats: festivals, conferences/discussion series, workshops, hackathons, etc.
  • Relevant content: the event provides fresh impetus for discussions that sit at the interface between art and other fields (e.g. society, technology) and/or harbour the potential for sustainable, structural changes (environmental, social, economic) or for digital transformation.
  • Scope to function as a model (transferable and/or adaptable) and originality
  • Networking potential and equality between the participating experts from artistic and non-artistic sectors
  • Feasibility and implementation according to professional standards and skills of the people involved
  • Public access

In addition to these specific criteria, the apply.

Financial Contribution

Maximum grant of CHF 50,000

The grant may cover part of the following costs:

  • Concept (curation)
  • Fee for artists and invited experts
  • Targeted communication campaigns

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)
  • Details of the invitees (CV, portfolios, etc.) and current CV(s) of the event organiser(s)
  • In the case of an exclusively virtual event, a compelling national or international online strategy must be demonstrated.

Format-specific Exclusion Criteria

  • Grants towards projects that only concern artistic disciplines
  • Grants for the presentation and promotion of artistic works (including exhibitions, performances, etc.)
  • Grants to events of an educational and/or promotional nature
  • Closed 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

Decision-making processes

Unless otherwise specified, applications will be assessed in accordance with the .

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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

General decision-making process

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Introduction

The decision-making process regarding applications is visualised below. Complete and legally relevant information can be found in the Grant Ordinance available in German, French and Italian.

Visualisation

Flowchart for application submission with three phases: formal review, substantive review, and decision, including color-coded steps and outcomes.

Status: december 2025