Innovation & Society
The Innovation & Society sector performs a cross-disciplinary function at the foundation, aiming to provide targeted stimulus for transformation in the cultural sector. The sector focuses on the following three strategic dimensions: new forms of collaboration, digitality, and sustainable development. Support goes to projects that pick up on social and technological developments and promote innovation in the Swiss cultural sector.
Support for Innovation & Society
Who are our formats directed to?
Our support programmes are aimed at cultural institutions and organisations and at artists and cultural practitioners from Switzerland active in any of the disciplines supported by Pro Helvetia.
What are our funding activities?
- Support for cultural events in Switzerland on topics such as sustainable development, digital transformation or new forms of collaboration
- Support for transformation processes at cultural institutions and organisations
- Knowledge transfer and provision of work tools and guidelines for the cultural sector (e.g. Sustainable Impact Tool)
- Support for experimenting with new methods and new forms of collaboration at the interface of art and non-art-related fields (e.g. PolArts)
- Contributions to research projects focusing on structural aspects of sustainable development and digitality in cultural and artistic practice
- Production grants (final edition of ‘Art+: contextual creation’, application deadline: 1 March 2026)
- Support for specific support activities in the arts disciplines
What’s on
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New and updated support formats for 2026
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Community for women in gaming: She Got Game delegation in Argentina
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Sustainable Impact Tool: Analysis and design of sustainable change in the cultural sector
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2026: changes to Innovation & Society support formats
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Finding synergies in international transdisciplinary collaboration
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Fostering deeper relationships: research and reciprocity in curatorial practice
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Connect Argentina residency: selected artists
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Translating practices: learnings from curators’ trips to Switzerland
Tools & Links
- Sustainable Impact Tool
Analysis and design of sustainable change in the cultural sector
Recommendations for funding bodies: sustainable cultural policy
Results of the working group on ecology in the cultural sector, undertaken by the ‘Nationaler Kulturdialog/Dialogue culturel national/Dialogo culturale nazionale’
Research project ‘Gender and diversity monitoring in cultural institutions’
Results from the cooperation project between Pro Helvetia, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Gender Studies (ICFG) at the University of Bern, and the Swiss Center for Social Research (CSR)
Executive Summary
Research report
Recommendations for funding bodies: cultural participation in the migration society
Results of the cooperative project on funding practices in culture and integration, undertaken by the Federal Commission on Migration, the Federal Office of Culture, the State Secretariat for Migration, and Pro Helvetia
- Art, Science & Technology DirectoryPlatform featuring organisations worldwide that operate at the intersection of art, science, and technology
Frequently asked questions
What does Pro Helvetia mean by transformation?
In accordance with Innovation & Society’s impact logic approach, transformation is not simply an outcome, but an open, learning-oriented process designed to be co-creative, transdisciplinary and experimental. In view of societal, ecological, and digital challenges, existing systems need to be called into question and new forms of collaboration, representation and creative and cultural practice explored. Structural conditions are to be changed in such a way that the process can have a leverage effect towards more social justice, sustainability, and digitality.
What is a transformation process? What exactly is being supported?
A transformation process at a cultural institution or organisation is a targeted and reflective change process that questions existing structures, practices, and thought patterns, and develops them in view of achieving socially relevant, sustainable, and future-proof effects. As part of its process support, Pro Helvetia enables cultural institutions and organisations to draw on the advisory services of transformation experts.
I am organising a cultural event on the topic of diversity and/or ecological sustainability. What support format is best suited to this purpose?
You can submit an application under the funding format ‘Event: culture in transition’.
I would like to apply for support for an outreach project that deals with sustainability issues and includes targeted awareness-raising initiatives. Would the format ‘Event: culture in transition’ be the right place to do so?
In the context of Innovation & Society, contributions to specific awareness-raising initiatives are not considered. Furthermore, neither the conception nor implementation of outreach projects is supported.
I am a scientific expert at a Swiss university and am organising a networking event at the interface of art and science there. Can I apply for funding from Pro Helvetia?
No, such an application must come from a cultural institution or organisation.
I am a specialist working in the industrial and technology sector and would like to apply for support for a hackathon at the interface of art and technology. Can I apply for support at Pro Helvetia?
No. Such an application must be submitted by the artist(s) involved or by a cultural institution or organisation.
In connection with an award ceremony, my institution would like to organise an event with artists. Can we apply for support at Pro Helvetia??
No, support is not provided for projects involving awards and related events.
I would like to develop a work tool for the cultural sector. Am I eligible for support through Innovation & Society?
Pro Helvetia’s Innovation & Society sector has terminated its support for tools. In the past, the programme provided funding for various institutions, organisations, initiatives and artists in connection with the launching and improving of innovative projects, tools and networks. After this stimulus and exploration phase, the focus now lies on the long-term consolidation of existing initiatives and tools — in the form of strong and sustainable alliances.
I am an artist and would like to apply for support for my artistic project that deals with transformation themes (feminist, sustainable, etc.). Is the format ‘Event: culture in transition’ the right place to do so?
Only if it is organised by a cultural organisation in connection with a public event and involves specialists from non-art-related fields. The application must be submitted by the cultural organisation concerned. For the support of artistic projects, you can apply at Pro Helvetia via the appropriate support programme of the art discipline in question.
Can I submit the same project for support under various funding programmes?
No.
I am a Swiss citizen but live abroad. Am I eligible to apply for support?
Pro Helvetia supports artists (individuals and collectives) whose work is centred in Switzerland. If you are living abroad, you must provide proof that you are part of the Swiss art and cultural scene, showing for example that you regularly work in Switzerland and receive support from Switzerland.
Do you have a question and would like to speak with a team member?
The team at a glance