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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Sticky post: How do cross-border collaborations take root? Interview with four organisers
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Co-creation: selected projects 2025
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Circuit Mixers: a networking project for FINTA DJ-producers
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Fostering deeper relationships: research and reciprocity in curatorial practice
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Translating practices: learnings from curators’ trips to Switzerland
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Spotlight on circus in Switzerland: Visitors from abroad
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Selected artists in residence 2026
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Swiss presence across borders: events and platforms around the world
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) | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a Space | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | 1a space, founded in 1998, is an independent, non-profit making contemporary visual arts organisation and exhibition venue founded by a collective of Hong Kong artworkers. Over the past two decades, 1a space has presented and organised various exhibitions and activities. 1a space has played a vital role in developing new frontiers for the visual arts culture in Hong Kong and its representation abroad. | Visual Arts | oneaspace.org.hk |
| A4 Residency Art Center | Chengdu, Mainland China | Located in Chengdu, China, A4 Residency Art Center is a multidisciplinary international platform integrating creation, networking, and resource-sharing. They are committed to fostering global creative collisions and innovation through residency programs while bridging creative culture with business and community engagement. Since 2011, they have collaborated with 335 creators from over 45 countries and regions, spanning diverse fields such as artists, scientists, writers, poets, scholars, musicians, architects, designers, and brand founders. A4 Residency provides professional cross-disciplinary support, empowering creators to push boundaries.Leveraging extensive industry expertise and a robust global network, we facilitate meaningful connections and resource transformation across industries. | Visual Arts | a4am.cn |
| ACENTRICSPACE | Shanghai, Mainland China | ACENTRICSPACE is an artist-run space and residency based in Zhujiajiao, Shanghai. Strive to provide a creation, exhibition space, and exchange platform for contemporary artists without restrictions. Dedicated to showcasing contemporary art exhibitions, running an ongoing artists-in-residence program, and offering art-related workshops for the community. | Visual arts, Performing arts, Music, Literature | 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 is launched in 2021. It is a non-profit artist residency centre, a residency programme 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 | BY ART MATTERS RESIDENCY.pdf |
| Chinese European Art Center (CEAC) | Xiamen, Mainland China | The Chinese European Art Center (CEAC) is distinguished by its pioneering role in China, its strong international orientation, and its long-standing commitment to artistic research and exchange. Founded in 1999 and launching its residency in 2001, CEAC is one of the first and longest-running artist-in-residence programmes in the country, having hosted over 400 international artists across visual arts, architecture, design, curation, writing, and music. As a non-commercial art space, CEAC provides residents with a supportive environment for experimentation, idea development, and cross-disciplinary exploration, free from commercial constraints. The programme emphasises cross-cultural dialogue and actively facilitates connections between visiting artists and local communities, offering opportunities for collaboration, public engagement, and institutional exchange. Initiated by Mrs. Ineke Gudmundsson in cooperation with Prof. Qin Jian of Xiamen University Art College, the residency benefits from strong academic and professional guidance, creating a platform where innovative practices, research-based projects, and international perspectives can meaningfully interact with the local context. | Visual arts, Architecture, Design, Music, Literature | ceac99.org |
| DRC No.12 Foundation x Yasheng Artist Residence Program | Fuzhou, Mainland China | This residency program is jointly initiated and operated by the DRC No.12 Foundation and the Yasheng Art Center in Fuzhou, China. It seeks to foster cross-cultural artistic practices and discussions by engaging deeply with the cultural, historical, and social contexts of Fuzhou and its surrounding regions. The program aims to encourage dialogue between international artists and the contemporary art environment in China, providing both the physical infrastructure and intellectual support for artistic creation. It promotes interdisciplinary research, transregional dialogue, and experimental artistic production. | Visual arts, Performing arts, Sound | drc12.org |
| Enchanted Reverie | Shanghai, Mainland China | Enchanted Reverie is a unique artist residency, where imagination germinates between the breaths of plants. The studio comes fully equipped, where ancient crafts meet contemporary technology: computers, electric piano, 3D printers, sewing machines, woodworking tools, laser engraver, and a small electric kiln prepared for ceramic artists. The residency host accompanies artists in wandering through the vibrant local art community, visiting nearby cultural sites, galleries, and artist studios. Enchanted Reverie offers what no institutional space can provide: the warmth and character of a creative home truly steeped in life, a portal to inner landscapes. Artists here don’t merely create but inhabit a space brimming with vitality, surrounded by true kindred spirits, finding their own language between pages and leaves. | Visual arts, Music, Performing arts, Design, Literature | enchantedreverie.art |
| HERmit Space | Beijing, Mainland China | HERmit Space is located in the MAHA Beijing, adjacent to Chaoyang Park and the798 Art District. It inherits and integrates the historical connection between culture and nature. HERmit Space, created by a female team, is actively engaged in constructing a unique perspective collection system. Simultaneously, it participates in the sharing and development of contemporary art through exhibitions, commissioned projects, academic activities, and more. Emphasizing the flexible power of perception and inclusivity, it gently guards every subtle or crisp imprint and sound, cherishing each moment. | Visual arts | instagram.com/hermit_space_ |
| Huaqianwu Ceramic Art Studio | Jingdezhen, Mainland China | A ceramic residency program in Jingdezhen, the ‘Porcelain Capital of the World.’ This residency aims to foster cross-cultural dialogue through ceramic arts, exploring the fusion of Jingdezhen’s historic techniques with contemporary creativity. Located in the Sanlei Factory, an old factory with new and traditional pottery craftsman and artists living there. Nearby there are pottery shops selling pottery materials and tools, pottery technique places where one could meet mold-makers, wheel-throwing masters, slip-casting masters, slab-building masters etc. | Visual arts | N/A |
| Inside-Out Art Museum (IOAM) | Beijing, Mainland China | Founded in Beijing in 2008, Inside-Out Art Museum (IOAM) is dedicated to contextualizing China’s groundbreaking art since 1949 within global narratives. Through experimental exhibitions, bilingual publications, and deep artistic research, IOAM platforms underrepresented voices and fosters dialogue between Chinese and international art scenes. With residency programs, a growing archive, and collaborations worldwide, we aim to build a leading institution where daring art meets rigorous scholarship—inspiring local and global audiences alike. | Visual arts, Literature | ioam.org.cn |
| 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 is open to all who have the desire to express themselves in an honest and concrete way, and want to extend the boundaries of perception and knowledge via conversation and collaboration. | Visual Arts | collectives.notion.site |
| Organhaus | Chongqing, Mainland China | An independent art organisation made up of artists and curators in cooperation. Started in 2007 in Chongqing, with nearly 200 square metres studio residency and exhibition space. Organhaus is dedicated to the exploration of experimental and multi-media art focused on the progress of urbanisation and globalisation. | Visual arts, Performing arts, Music | site.douban.com/organhaus |
| Ox Warehouse | Macau, Macau | Ox Warehouse began planning activities in 2001, was established in 2002, and moved to the Former Municipal Cattle Stable in 2003. From 2018 to 2021, it relocated to No. 15 Rua do Volong, named ‘Post-Ox Warehouse Experimental Site,’ engaging in exchanges beyond Macau and hosting artist residencies. Since 2022, it has held exhibitions in various spaces, focusing on cross-media, experimental contemporary art, and promoting individual creativity and experimental spirit. | Visual arts, Performing arts | facebook.com/oxwarehouse |
| Positive Art Research Centre (PARC) | Hangzhou, Mainland China | ‘Is “Shan Shui” Useful Today?’ is the programme 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. | Visual arts, Performing arts, Design, Literature, Music, Architecture | positiveartresearch.com |
| Po Leung Kuk V54 | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Young Artist in Residence at V54 from Po Leung Kuk has provided short-term residence to local and international young artists aged 18 to 40 and supported their cultural exchange, to promote diverse arts experiences in the community. By integrating history and living areas, it offers young artists a broad creative platform to continue their creation or research. The residency project emphasizes the connection between arts and community. We encourage resident artists to deepen public engagement with diverse cultural experience and empower young people by arranging inspiring arts activities and creative education. | Visual arts, Performing arts, Design, Multidisciplinary art, Literature | poleungkuk.org.hk/yad/v54 |
| 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 | 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 residency projects and topical exhibition programmes. By means of long-term exchanges and dialogue with international artists and curators, studio gallery continues to initiate various topical exhibitions, research-based educational programmes and publications. | Visual arts, Literature | studiogallery.cn |
| Surplus Space | Wuhan, Mainland China | Surplus Space is an international non-profit contemporary art institution dedicated to showcasing and promoting the latest and most cutting-edge art experiments both domestically and internationally. It provides professional and diverse contemporary art exhibitions and public art education programs to bring contemporary art culture closer to public life. Since its establishment in November 2015, the remaining space has held over 60 exhibitions, more than 30 public artistic projects, and collaborated with over 150 artists, building a platform for positive interaction between art and culture in Central China, even China and the whole international community. The remaining space will soon be moved to the Hankou Historical Area in Wuhan, with a new space area of 600 square meters. While continuing to conduct cutting-edge contemporary art experiments, the new space will also combine the geographical and cultural characteristics of Wuhan’s subculture to carry out rich and diverse cultural activities and exchanges. | Performing arts, Visual arts, Music | surplusspace.cn |
| Three Shadows Photography Art Centre | Xiamen, Mainland China | Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, founded in 2007, is China’s first independent organization dedicated to contemporary photography. It was jointly established by the influential Chinese photographer RongRong and the renowned Japanese photographer Inri. Three Shadows Xiamen comprises exhibition spaces, a library, a digital output center, an education department, a bookstore, and a café. In order to further expand China’s photography community and foster exchanges with international institutions, we continue to operate the Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program. The residency is based in Xiamen, a distinctive coastal city where tradition and modernity converge. | Visual arts, Multidisciplinary art | threeshadows.cn |
| Times 101 | Guangzhou, Mainland China | Times 101 and Huangbian Information Station are micro ‘art + community’ spaces embedded in Guangzhou’s Huangbian urban village. With coexistence as our core principle, we invite artists and initiatives to reside and engage in cultivation-based, site-specific practices. Together, we model a ‘community museum’ at the smallest possible scale. We foster vivid exchanges between artistic creation and everyday life. Recently, a new shared space with a neighboring resident has been added, extending the rhythm of this practice into the evolving fabric of the village. | Various disciplines | Times 101 |
| YINZI Theater | Chongqing, Mainland China | YINZI theater, hailing from Chongqing – the cyber city of western China – is creating fluid theaters across urban public spaces, from graffiti streets to art galleries, museums, traditional building and music festivals. They are dedicated to advancing contemporary performing arts: music, physical theatre, dance, sound, installations, video and immersive live experiences. YINZI offers diverse formats including residency project, co-productions, cultural exchanges, and producer visits. It encourages artists to boldly create new works through domestic and international collaborations. YINZI also actively develops independent performing arts networks across mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. | Performing Arts | 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