Pro Helvetia
Shanghai
Established in 2010, the Shanghai liaison office of Pro Helvetia is committed to cultural exchange and artistic collaboration between Switzerland and Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Our team of local experts facilitates and supports professional encounters between artistic scenes in the disciplines supported by Pro Helvetia. We forge ties with event organisers and nurture long-term partnerships with relevant platforms to support the promotion and dissemination of Swiss arts in the region. Our grants enable residencies and research trips in both directions to foster cultural exchange.
About us
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
Our team is based in Shanghai but we support projects in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
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.
- We select projects on the basis of their outstanding qualities and their relevance in the regional context.
What’s on
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‘Inspiration, connection, and empowerment for women in gaming’: Apply for She Got Game
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Night Pieces: A Foreign Body Within
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East Asia: selected artists-in-residence 2025
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SwissGames at Gamescom 2024
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Joshua Monten Dance Company Returns to China
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A Bunch of Noise festival and tours
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Untooling: Carbon Flux
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reConvert’s first Asian tour
Our residency partners
Below is a selection of our project and residency partners in the region. This network is varied and in flux, responding to the dynamic contexts of the region. Located in urban centres and rural settings, our partners work across a variety of disciplines and formats in fixed spaces or as open platforms. Artists applying for a residency may specify which partner best fits their proposal. Please note that in case of selection, the partner institution may change depending on availability.
List of residency partners as a table
Residency | Location | Description | Discipline(s) | URL |
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Po Leung Kuk | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Provides short-term residential services to local and overseas young artists, offering them a space for exchange, to inspire each other and explore the realms of creativity. Studio is located at a French-style historic building in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. | Visual Arts, Music | https://www.poleungkuk.org.hk/en/service/youth-services/all-services/creative-art-and-culture-services/young-artist-in-residence-v54 |
1a Space | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | 1a space, founded in 1998, is an independent, non-profit making contemporary visual art organization and art venue founded by a collective of Hong Kong artworkers. Currently located at Cattle Depot, 1a space aims to promote the making, experimentation, exchange and dissemination of contemporary art both in Hong Kong and in the international arena. Over two decades, 1a space has developed into one of Hong Kong’s leading contemporary art organizations. It has produced more than 160 exhibitions and activities, and has been active in international exchanges, cultural festivals, participatory community art, as well as art education and publication. The operation funding of 1a space has been supported by grants and donations, while its administration cost is partially supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. | Visual arts | https://www.oneaspace.org.hk/ |
A4 art Museum | Chengdu, Mainland China | Founded in March 2008 and has held 37 contemporary art exhibitions and over 500 educational events since. Located in Chengdu’s Luxelakes Eco-City in a structure designed by architect Antoine Predock. Works to promote outstanding artists and the pioneering development of contemporary art. | Visual arts | http://www.a4am.cn/index/en |
ACENTRICSPACE | Shanghai, Mainland China | ACENTRICSPACE is an artist-run space and residency based in Zhujiajiao, Shanghai. As the name “Acentric” suggests, they strive to provide a creative space and exchange platform for contemporary artists without restrictions and boundaries. ACENTRICSPACE is dedicated to showcasing contemporary art exhibitions, and artists in residence and providing workshops for the public, etc. In addition, ACENTRICSPACE encourages collaboration between international artists and local artists in contemporary Chinese society; where multicultural expression sparks fresh perspectives and ideas. | Various disciplines | www.acentricspace.com |
BY ART MATTERS | Hangzhou, Mainland China | BY ART MATTERS is a contemporary art museum located in the OōEli campus, designed and built by Renzo Piano Workshop. BY ART MATTERS RESIDENCY launched in 2021. It is a non-profit artist residency centre, a residency program under BY ART MATTERS museum. It offers residencies to emerging contemporary artists and researchers around the world and provides them with a dynamic space for living, working, showing and sharing, in order to encourage and support the growth of local and international contemporary art. An experienced academic committee from the museum will provide professional, objective support for the residents and help them develop their practice. | Various disciplines | https://prohelvetia.ch/app/uploads/2023/11/2024_BY-ART-MATTERS-RESIDENCY.pdf |
Chronus Art Center | Shanghai, Mainland China | China’s first nonprofit art organization dedicated to the presentation, research, creation and scholarship of media art. CAC with its exhibitions, residency-oriented fellowships, lectures and workshop programs and through its archiving and publishing initiatives, creates a multifaceted and vibrant platform for the discourse, production and dissemination of media art in a global context. | Visual Arts esp. with new media focus | http://www.chronusartcenter.org/en/ |
Chinese European Art Center | Xiamen, Mainland China | For more than twelve years, the Chinese European Art Center has hosted and premiered international artists from all over the world. With studios, exhibitions, contemporary film festivals, concerts, lectures, workshops and an artists-in-residence program, the CEAC plays a central role in southeast China’s cultural landscape. | Visual Arts | http://www.ceac99.org/ |
DRC.12 – Changbai Mountains Residency Program (CMRP) | Changbai Mountain, Mainland China | The artist-in-residence program aims to prompt critical debate on issues such as the current narratives of the nation and state, and the exploitation and destruction of natural resources from a historical perspective through studying the society, culture, ethnicity, and history of the Changbai Mountains and the surrounding northeast region. The program attempts to integrate DRC No.12’s focus on social critique and global geopolitical dynamics, and the cultural, historical, and artistic fieldwork of the Changbai Mountains region, producing exhibitions, discussions, publications, and other forms of knowledge from a contemporary art perspective. There are two resident artists or researchers in each period, one Chinese and one foreign, who will work together through discussion and research. | Various disciplines | https://www.drc12.org/923493352811 |
House 141 | Shanghai, Mainland China | House 141 is an artist residency program created by artist Wang Xin. Here, resident artists will have the opportunity to experience and participate in her unique practices of spiritual exploration, hypnosis, and meditation. The residency is located in the picturesque ancient town of Zhujiajiao in Shanghai, renowned for its distinctive cultural atmosphere. Artists are invited to immerse themselves in this tranquil setting, fostering their artistic pursuits while drawing inspiration from the cultural richness and natural beauty of the environment. | Visual Arts, Music, Design | https://wangxin.art/house_141 |
Inside-Out Art Museum | Beijing, Mainland China | Located in the Xishan Cultural and Creative Boulevard in Beijing. With a focus on the critical viewpoint born out of cultural, historical and political relatedness instead of exclusiveness, they look within ourselves and promote dialogue with the cutting-edge art practices worldwide. | Visual Arts, Performing Arts | https://www.ioam.org.cn/en/residency/ |
Making Space | Guangzhou, Mainland China | Founded in 2017, Making Space is located in Panyu, Guangzhou, near a neighborhood that has been going through a major transformation. Making Space opens to all who have the desire to express in an honest and concrete way, and wants to extend the boundaries of perception and knowledge via conversation and collaboration. | Visual Arts | https://collectives.notion.site/Making-Space-5ffca5aecabb41419f2ce76cf7bb7da9 |
Organhaus | Chongqing, Mainland China | An independent art organization made of artists and curators in cooperation. Started in 2007 and located within 501 Art Warehouse in Chongqing, with nearly 200 sqm studio residency and exhibition space. Organhaus is dedicated to the exploration of experimental and multi-media art focused on the progress of urbanization and globalization. | Visual Arts, Performance | https://site.douban.com/organhaus/ |
PARC Hangzhou | Hangzhou, Mainland China | “Is ‘Shan Shui’ Useful Today?” is the program by PARC Hangzhou, a three-year artist-led project, featuring a unique apartment adjacent to the West Lake. “Shan” (mountain) and “Shui” (water) is an important motif in various genres of Chinese art and literature, and also embodies a specific spiritual state and lifestyle. The project consists of two main components: “Curate·Act” and “Residence·Space”. “Curate·Act” takes place approximately every three months, focusing on the events, actions, and performances that occur between the curators and artists within the outdoor landscapes of West Lake in Hangzhou. “Residence·Space”provides a guest room within “PARC Hangzhou”for individuals from the cultural and artistic community who are interested in or related to the project to reside in. All cultural and artistic workers related to topics “Shan Shui,”such as nature, scenery, and the environment are welcome. This includes artists, designers, writers, musicians, performers, architects, environmentalists, gardeners, historians, cross-cultural comparison, anthropologists, and more. | Various disciplines | www.positiveartresearch.com |
Shanghai Museum of Glass | Shanghai, Mainland China | Hosts studios of leading artists in China practicing with video, installation, etc. Opened in 2011, the Shanghai Museum of Glass is listed as one of the three must-visit museums in China. This museum has presented impressive exhibitions over the past several years, from the academic glass art exhibition by domestic and international artists, the ancient glass themed exhibition, to “Keep It Glassy” series exhibition, and the cross-border “Annealing” series exhibition, started in 2015, fusing glass and contemporary art together mutually. In this museum, glass art and design crosses the border between time, space, culture and language, and is presented to the public audience in different cross-type forms. | Visual Arts | http://www.shmog.org/ |
Studio Gallery | Shanghai, Mainland China | The studio gallery takes the artists’ actual work experience and real thoughts as its core value, supports the artist residence projects and topical exhibition programs. By means of long-term exchanges and dialogue with international artists and curators, studio gallery continues to initiate various topical exhibitions, research-based educational programs and publications. | Visual Arts | https://www.studiogallery.cn/ |
Surplus Space | Wuhan, Mainland China | Surplus Space, a non-profit art space, was founded in 2015. Dedicated to accelerating cutting-edge academics at home and abroad, diversified art experiments and exhibitions, and academic researches and promotions. By means of curation, they explore the current frontier issues in social, cultural, political and artistic ecosystem fields, providing a good experimental platform and exhibition opportunities for young emerging artists. Through interdisciplinary, cross-media and rich public art education programs, they build a platform for cultural and artistic exchanges both domestically and internationally, to promote the development of contemporary art, and create a unique contemporary art atmosphere. During eight years, they have attracted many artists and institutions in China and from other countries, including the United States, France, Britain, Belgium, Latvia. They are keen to enrich the contemporary art ecology in Central China, bringing opportunities for more outstanding curators and artists through continuous efforts. | Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Dance | http://surplusspace.cn/ |
Three Shadows Photography Art Centre | Beijing , Mainland China | Situated in Beijing’s Caochangdi Art District, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre was China’s first independent organization specializing in contemporary art photography upon its founding. It was jointly founded by the influential Chinese contemporary photographer RongRong and his wife, the celebrated Japanese photographer Inri. Since June 2007, Three Shadows has become the country’s premiere platform for the presentation, promotion, discovery and international exchange of high-caliber photography. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre is comprised of two spaces, north and south: one is situated in Beijing’s Caochangdi Art District, while the other is located in Xinlinwan, Jimei District in the city of Xiamen in southern China. The Beijing location includes 4600 square meters of space and 2600 square meters of landscape architecture. The Xiamen location includes more than 3600 square meters of space. Aside from its exhibition spaces, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre also includes +3 Gallery, image production facilities (Xiamen location), a vast library (Xiamen location), a book store, and a cafe. | Visual Arts | https://www.threeshadows.cn/ |
Three Shadows Photography Art Centre | Xiamen, Mainland China | Situated in Beijing’s Caochangdi Art District, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre was China’s first independent organization specializing in contemporary art photography upon its founding. It was jointly founded by the influential Chinese contemporary photographer Rong Rong and his wife, Japanese photographer Inri. Since 2007, Three Shadows has become the country’s premiere platform for the presentation, promotion, discovery and international exchange of high-caliber photography. Three Shadows is comprised of two spaces, north and south: one is situated in Beijing’s Caochangdi Art District, while the other is located in Xinlinwan, Jimei District in the city of Xiamen in southern China. The Beijing location includes 4600 square meters of space and 2600 square meters of landscape architecture. The Xiamen location includes more than 3600 square meters of space. Aside from its exhibition spaces, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre also includes +3 Gallery, image production facilities (Xiamen location), a vast library (Xiamen location), a book store, and a cafe. | Visual Arts | https://www.threeshadows.cn/ |
Times 101 | Guangzhou , Mainland China | “Times 101” was first used as a community-based space during “The 5th Times Museum Community Art Festival”. Located in the village, “Times 101” is right next to “Huangbian Intelligence Station” co-built by Guangdong Times Museum and Qianhe Foundation. Although being smaller than 20 square meters, as a local project, in this 1.3-square-kilometer natural village, “Times 101” has been attached with significance of establishing connections: from a rather ‘exquisite’ art museum, design center and strictly-maintained middle-class residential communities, to Huangbian, which has been shrinking in size during the process of urbanization over the past 30 years and increasingly becoming ‘parallel’ to the former area. Artists are invited to this space for the purpose of seeking “coexistence”. Seeing from the perspective of Huangbian residents, experiencing local-based art practices, together people become united, here and at this moment. | Various disciplines | https://foil-finch-755.notion.site/101-Times-101-Community-Artist-in-residence-Project-958328f05d09427a82e1255053c29069 |
YINZI Theater | Chongqing, Mainland China | As the first independent experimental theatre meeting international standards, YINZI Theatre started at 501 Art Base, a red bricks warehouse. Their curatorial team is based in Chongqing and centers on multidisciplinary creativity. They have also established a production network with many outstanding independent producers and curators from home and abroad. YINZI theatre started with the promotion of visual arts, and through ten years of interdisciplinary practices, it now mainly focuses on the development of contemporary performing arts. In addition to using the black box to produce, contract, present, and promote works of contemporary performing art (in the form of music, sound, non-verbal performance, dance, one-act play, immersive theatre, installation, and video), they also explore more possibilities for performing arts in public spaces and is actively building an archive for independent young performing artists in southwest China. | Performing Arts | www.cqyinzi.com |
Frequently asked questions
I’m a Swiss artist and my upcoming project is based in Hong Kong/Macau, am I eligible to apply for your suppport?
Yes, we cover activities and initiatives that take place in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
I am an artist from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan. What funding opportunities does Pro Helvetia offer?
Please find the relevant formats under Find Support. Make sure to select the parameters that suit you.
I am an artist from the region, am I eligible for a work grant?
No. As a national foundation, Pro Helvetia supports work grant for artists with Swiss nationality or with permanent residence in Switzerland.
Applicants who have completed a research trip or a residency supported by Pro Helvetia may apply for a co-creation grant.
I am an artist from the region and I want to apply for funding for a project in another country within the region. Can Pro Helvetia fund me?
No. We only support projects that have a clear Swiss dimension or connection, involving Swiss arts professionals.
I am an artist from the region and I want to present my work in Switzerland. Can Pro Helvetia fund me?
No. We do not normally support the presentation of work through, for example, exhibitions and tours in Switzerland. Please refer to artlink for funding opportunities relating to presenting work in Switzerland.
I have a project proposal, but no Swiss partner. Can Pro Helvetia introduce me to relevant Swiss partners?
Please contact the respective programme manager for your region.
Do you have a question and would like to speak with a team member?
The team at a glance