Our Offices & Partners Abroad

Research trips

Residencies and research trips >

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Applications for research trips can be submitted on an ongoing basis.

myprohelvetia.ch

Any questions about your application?

You will find the most important answers here:

Contact

Martina Lughi
Coordinator Global Network & International Affairs

Contact

Pro Helvetia supports research trips (max. 4 weeks) to Switzerland and from Switzerland to other countries. Applications can be submitted by Swiss or Swiss-based cultural practitioners and those living in the regions covered by our liaison offices (Arab region, China, Russia, South America, South Asia, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa).

Research trips for cultural practitioners from the liaison office regions

Cultural practitioners based in a region covered by a liaison office of Pro Helvetia (Arab region, China, Russia, South America, South Asia, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa) may apply for research trips to Switzerland via myprohelvetia.ch. Applications may be submitted on an ongoing basis, but at the latest three months before the trip is due to begin. Applications must be submitted in English.

Research trips are limited to a maximum of four weeks and are intended to provide inspiration and to enable the practitioner concerned to network and to conduct research.

Budget

Pro Helvetia covers the costs for accommodation, a daily allowance, professional coaching and travel costs up to a total amount of CHF 5,000. Additionally, parents can apply for financial support of CHF 1,000 at most to co-finance childcare or to bring their children and possibly a caregiver. The applicant is asked to provide an approximate budget for all expenses in advance.

Selection criteria

  • Eligible are cultural practitioners from the following disciplines: architecture, performing arts, design, interactive media, literature, music, visual arts.
  • Convincing track record: the applicant’s artistic activity has a national/cross-regional appeal.
  • Sufficient knowledge of English or of the language(s) of the country concerned
  • Concrete research topic with a lasting impact and a link to the local scene
  • Due to ecological reasons, we encourage applicants to consider a research trip of at least 2-4 weeks duration, depending on the destination.

Cultural practitioners from the following countries are eligible to apply

Arab region

  • Egypt
  • Algeria
  • Bahrain
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Kwait
  • Lebanon
  • Morocco
  • Mauritania
  • Oman
  • Palestine
  • Quatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sudan
  • Tunisia
  • United Arab Emirates

China

  • Mainland China
  • Hong Kong

Russia

  • Russia

South America

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Ecuador
  • Colombia
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

South Asia

  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • India
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Vietnam

West, Central, East and Southern Africa

  • Angola
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Ethiopia
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cabo Verde
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • DR Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Eritrea
  • Eswatini
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Cameroon
  • Kenya
  • Comoros
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Rwanda
  • Zambia
  • Sao Tome and Préncipe
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Chad
  • Uganda
  • Central African Republic
  • Zimbabwe

Research trips for cultural practitioners from Switzerland

Cultural practitioners from Switzerland may apply for research trips worldwide* via myprohelvetia.ch. Applications may be submitted on an ongoing basis, but at the latest three months before the trip is due to begin. Applications must be submitted in English. Research trips are limited to four weeks and are intended to provide inspiration and to enable the practitioner concerned to network and to conduct research.

* Please consult the FDFA’s travel advice before submitting your application. Pro Helvetia does not support research trips to countries that the FDFA advises against visiting (for the entire country).

Budget

Pro Helvetia covers the costs for accommodation, a daily allowance, professional coaching and travel costs up to a total amount of CHF 5,000. Additionally, parents can apply for financial support of CHF 1,000 at most to co-finance childcare or to bring their children and possibly a caregiver. The applicant is asked to provide an approximate budget for all expenses in advance.

Coaching

For Swiss-based cultural practitioners who want to travel to countries covered by our liaison offices (Arab region, China, Russia, South America, South Asia, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa – detailed list below), Pro Helvetia can offer, if needed, the support of a local mentor or propose a coaching partner of its own.

For all other destinations, the applicant is obliged to suggest a local coaching partner (e.g. a festival/institution/museum/curator/collaborator) that enables him/her to build bridges to the local scene and that can guarantee assistance for the research. If needed, the applicant is free to use the above-mentioned budget to pay the coach an appropriate fee.

Selection criteria

  • Eligible are cultural practitioners from the following disciplines: architecture, performing arts, design, interactive media, literature, music, visual arts.
  • Convincing track record: the applicant’s artistic activity has a national/cross-regional appeal.
  • Sufficient knowledge of English or of the language(s) of the country concerned
  • Concrete research topic with a lasting impact and a link to the local scene
  • Due to ecological reasons, we encourage applicants to consider a research trip of at least 2-4 weeks duration, depending on the destination.
  • For research trips that are not within the area of responsibility of our liaison offices, a letter of interest from a local coaching partner is required.

Possible destinations within the area of responsibility of our liaison offices

Arab region

  • Egypt
  • Algeria
  • Bahrain
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Kwait
  • Lebanon
  • Morocco
  • Mauritania
  • Oman
  • Palestine
  • Quatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sudan
  • Tunisia
  • United Arab Emirates

China

  • Mainland China
  • Hong Kong

Russia

  • Russia

South America

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Ecuador
  • Colombia
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

South Asia

  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • India
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Vietnam

West, Central, East and Southern Africa

  • Angola
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Ethiopia
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cabo Verde
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • DR Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Eritrea
  • Eswatini
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Cameroon
  • Kenya
  • Comoros
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Rwanda
  • Zambia
  • Sao Tome and Préncipe
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Chad
  • Uganda
  • Central African Republic
  • Zimbabwe