Pro Helvetia
Johannesburg

Whom do we address?

• Artists and creators in Switzerland and the region
• Curators and cultural event organisers and programmers in Switzerland and the region
• Organisations, platforms and institutions supporting exchange and presentation of work to audiences in the region

Where we operate

We currently work from a strategic and administrative base in Johannesburg, traditionally engaging with the Southern African region, with a primary focus on South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Since 2020, we have extended the geographical remit of the liaison office across Central, West and East Africa. The countries where we are most proactively engaged with partners and networks are Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia (in East Africa); and Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Ivory Coast (in West Africa). We also support initiatives involving other countries across this expanded geography, but work here in a more responsive way.

Our funding activities

• We support the presentation of Swiss contemporary work in the region through participation in festivals, tours, exhibitions and events.
• We support professional exchange and networking among artists, cultural practitioners and partners from Switzerland and the region, in both geographical contexts.
• We run a residency programme and support research trips for individual artists and cultural practitioners from Switzerland and the region. Further information on our residency partner network and guides to residencies can be found here.
• We select projects on the basis of their outstanding qualities and their relevance in the regional context.