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Literature

Literary translation

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Target group
Institution in Switzerland
Submission deadline
Open year-round

What

Translation of recent contemporary literature from Switzerland

For Whom

Publishing houses

Selection Criteria

  • Appropriate fee for translators in line with standard national rates
  • The translated title is a current contemporary literary piece from Switzerland.
  • The translator must have already completed a literary translation in the same language combination.
  • Quality of the submitted text sample
  • Visibility of the translator in the publication (afterword, short profile, mention on the cover, etc.)

In addition to these specific criteria, the apply.

Financial Contribution

  • The support is based on the translation fee in line with standard national rates (place of residence of the translator).
  • For translations of illustrated children’s and youth literature, half of the license costs are also covered (max. grant of CHF 2,000).
  • For translations of comics, there is an additional contribution towards lettering/inscription.
  • Additional funding for editorial work and promotion projects in connection with a translation application is available for a maximum of twice per year (max. contribution of CHF 2,000 per editorial work / promotional project).
  • In the case of translations from Romansh, bilingual or multilingual first publications may be considered.

Content Of Application

  • Project description
  • Translator’s CV
  • Publication date and location
  • Print date
  • 20 proofread pages of the translation and the corresponding original text
  • Signed license agreement
  • Signed translation agreement. The passage with the agreed upon fee must be written in German, French, Italian or English.
  • Details of editorial challenges (if applying for an editorial grant)
  • Details of planned promotion activities (if applying for a promotion grant)

Format-specific Exclusion Criteria

  • Translations of anthologies are not supported.
  • Translations into Southeast European languages are supported through our partner network Traduki. Applications, including those from French, Italian and Romansh, are to be submitted directly at traduki.eu/grants.
  • The contribution is linked to literary texts by natural persons.

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

Decision-making processes

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

Additional Information

  • The project start date is the print date.
  • Texts by recently deceased authors from Switzerland may also be submitted.
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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