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Residency in East Asia

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Target group
Practitioner with connection to Switzerland
Submission deadline
1 March, 23:59 (CET)

What

Up to three-month residencies at a partner institution in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan. See below for the list of partners

For Whom

Artists and cultural practitioners from Switzerland who are active in any of the disciplines supported by Pro Helvetia. Applications from both individuals and artist duos are accepted.

Selection Criteria

  • Strong professional interest in the selected destination, connected to the applicant’s artistic practice, and in networking with the local cultural field
  • A proposal for an artistic project or research idea that can deepen the exchange between the cultural scenes of Switzerland and the chosen destination
  • Knowledge of English or the language(s) of the selected destination to ensure smooth and effective communication

In addition to these specific criteria, the apply.

Financial Contribution

  • Accommodation
  • Travel costs
  • Daily allowances
  • Coach: a cultural professional from the local artistic field, facilitating networking and exchange
  • Workstation (on request)
  • Contribution towards production/material costs (on request)
  • In addition, artists and cultural practitioners with childcare responsibilities can apply for financial support of up to CHF 1,000 per month as a contribution to childcare or for the travel expenses of their children and, if necessary, a carer. This also applies if the child/children stay at home and are cared for. Applicants must present a budget of all expenses in advance.

Content Of Application

  • Title and brief description of the proposal
  • Motivation explaining the professional interest in the selected destination
  • Desired length of stay and chosen destination
  • CV and portfolio

All applications must be submitted in English.

Format-specific Exclusion Criteria

Up to two applications can be submitted for residencies to the liaison offices, each with distinct proposals. Only one may be approved per call for applications.

Application Deadlines and Decision Timelines

Applications can be submitted from1 January
Submission deadline1 March, 23:59 (CET)
Notification of decisionWithin four months
Earliest start date for the projectThe following year

Decision-making processes

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

Additional Information

Pro Helvetia assumes no responsibility for the approval of visa applications from artists, accompanying children, partners, family members or caregivers.

Our residency partners

Further information on our residency partner network, guides to residencies in the respective regions and FAQs can be found here.

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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