About this opportunity
This is Pro Helvetia's residency route for practitioners who have no connection to Switzerland, which is exactly who it is designed for. You spend up to three months at a partner institution inside the Swiss cultural scene, working on your own practice and building relationships with the local field. Applications come from individuals and from artist duos, and the disciplines covered follow Pro Helvetia's funding areas of design, literature, music, performing arts, visual arts and innovation and society.
The funding is practical rather than symbolic. Pro Helvetia covers accommodation, travel costs and daily allowances, and assigns each resident a coach, a cultural professional from the local artistic field who facilitates networking and exchange. A workstation and a contribution towards production or material costs can both be requested. Artists and cultural practitioners with childcare responsibilities can apply for up to 1,000 CHF a month towards childcare or towards the travel costs of their children and, where needed, a carer, even if the children stay at home. A budget of all expenses must be presented in advance.
Eligibility
turns on where you live and how you work. You must have permanent residence in one of Pro Helvetia's liaison office regions and be actively participating in that cultural scene, with a comprehensive portfolio and a proven track record in your field. The African countries named by Pro Helvetia include Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Cameroon, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Benin and many more across the continent. You also need knowledge of English or one of the Swiss languages so communication runs smoothly.
What Pro Helvetia wants to see is a proposal that connects your practice to Switzerland. That means a strong professional interest in the destination you choose, tied to your artistic work, and a project or research idea that deepens exchange between the Swiss scene and the cultural scene of the country where you live. Applications are submitted in English through the Pro Helvetia portal, decisions arrive within four months, and the earliest project start date is the following year.
What you receive
- Residency of up to three months at a partner institution in Switzerland
- Accommodation covered by Pro Helvetia
- Travel costs covered
- Daily allowances during the residency
- A coach who is a cultural professional from the local artistic field, facilitating networking and exchange
- Workstation available on request
- Contribution towards production or material costs on request
- Up to 1,000 CHF per month towards childcare or the travel costs of children and, where needed, a carer
- Open to individuals and to artist duos
Who can apply
- Artists and cultural practitioners with permanent residence in one of Pro Helvetia's liaison office regions and active participation in that cultural scene
- Working in one of the disciplines Pro Helvetia supports: design, literature, music, performing arts, visual arts, innovation and society
- Comprehensive portfolio and proven track record of professional activity in your field
- Strong professional interest in the selected destination, connected to your artistic practice and to networking with the local cultural field
- A proposal for an artistic project or research idea that deepens exchange between the cultural scenes of Switzerland and your country of residence
- Knowledge of English or one of the Swiss languages for smooth and effective communication
- Applicants from the African countries listed by Pro Helvetia, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Cameroon, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Togo
- Artists and cultural practitioners from the Arab region, East Asia, South America, and South Asia and Vietnam are also eligible
Who should not apply
- Artists and cultural practitioners from countries outside the Pro Helvetia liaison office areas of responsibility may not apply
- Pro Helvetia cannot consider funding requests from applicants enrolled in a school, university curriculum, basic training or education programme
- Practitioners who already have a connection to Switzerland use a different funding route, as this call targets practitioners without connection to Switzerland
Documents to prepare
- Title and brief description of the proposal
- Motivation explaining your professional interest in the selected destination
- Desired length of stay and chosen destination
- Curriculum vitae
- Portfolio of your work
- Budget of all expenses in advance, where childcare support or material cost contributions are requested
- All documents submitted in English
How to apply
- Read the residency conditions and the full list of eligible countries on the Pro Helvetia Residency in Switzerland page at https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/residency-in-switzerland/
- Choose a partner institution and destination from the Pro Helvetia residency partner network and review the regional guides and FAQs published alongside it
- Create your account on the Pro Helvetia funding portal at https://portal.prohelvetia.ch/en/login
- Prepare your proposal title and description, your motivation for the destination, your desired length of stay, your CV and your portfolio, all in English
- Submit the application through the portal once the annual call opens on 1 January
- Submit before the deadline of 1 March at 23:59 Central European Time, and note that decisions arrive within four months with the earliest project start date the following year
Selection process
- Applications are assessed against the published selection criteria: permanent residence and active participation in the cultural scene of a liaison office region, portfolio and professional track record, professional interest in the destination, the strength of the proposed exchange with Switzerland, and language ability
- Format specific exclusion criteria are applied first, including residence outside the liaison office areas and current enrolment in a school or education programme
- Pro Helvetia notifies applicants of the decision within four months of the deadline
- Successful projects start no earlier than the following year, and Pro Helvetia takes no responsibility for the approval of visa applications for artists, accompanying children, partners, family members or caregivers
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply as a duo?
Yes. Applications from both individuals and artist duos are accepted.
Do I need to be a citizen of one of the listed countries?
The requirement is permanent residence in one of Pro Helvetia's liaison office regions together with active participation in that cultural scene, so it is where you live and work that counts.
What does the residency pay for?
Accommodation, travel costs and daily allowances are covered. A workstation and a contribution towards production or material costs can be requested, and a coach from the local artistic field is assigned.
I have children. Is there support?
Yes. Artists and cultural practitioners with childcare responsibilities can apply for up to 1,000 CHF per month towards childcare or the travel expenses of their children and, if necessary, a carer. This also applies if the children stay at home and are cared for there. You must present a budget of all expenses in advance.
When does the call open and close?
Applications can be submitted from 1 January and the submission deadline is 1 March at 23:59 Central European Time. Decisions arrive within four months.
Can a student apply?
No. Pro Helvetia is unable to consider funding requests if the applicant is enrolled in a school, university curriculum, basic training or education programme.
Does Pro Helvetia handle the Swiss visa?
No. Pro Helvetia assumes no responsibility for the approval of visa applications from artists, accompanying children, partners, family members or caregivers.
What language do I apply in?
All applications must be submitted in English. You also need knowledge of English or one of the Swiss languages to take part.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
