Guest Performance Support for Swiss Performing Arts Companies and Artists (Switzerland)

Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council) supports guest performances by Swiss performing arts companies and artists at nationally renowned venues and festivals outside Switzerland. The opportunity is aimed specifically at dance, theatre, music theatre, contemporary circus, street performances, and “Kleinkunst,” and includes support for travel-related costs and related expenses. Applications are accepted open year-round for requests up to CHF 50,000, with specific quarterly deadlines for higher-value requests. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding organization: Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council)

- Opportunity name: Guest performance outside Switzerland

- Opportunity type: Funding/grant support

- Who can apply: Performing arts companies and artists from Switzerland

- Eligible countries/locations: Guest performances outside Switzerland at nationally renowned venues and festivals

- Submission deadline:

- Open year-round for funding requests up to CHF 25,000 - Open year-round for funding requests between CHF 25,001 and CHF 50,000 - 1 September / 1 December / 1 March / 1 June for funding requests over CHF 50,000 - Earliest project start date (by funding request size):

- Up to CHF 25,000: Eight weeks after submitting the application

- Over CHF 25,001 (up to CHF 50,000): Four months after submitting the application

- Over CHF 50,000: Four months after submitting the application

- Decision timeline:

- Up to CHF 25,000: decision within eight weeks

- CHF 25,001–50,000: decision within four months

- Over CHF 50,000: decision within four months

- Target sectors: Dance, theatre, music theatre, contemporary circus, street performances, “Kleinkunst”

- Project prerequisites (general requirements): clear connection to Switzerland, nationwide importance, adequate co-funding, and fair working conditions

About the Opportunity

This Pro Helvetia support offer funds guest performances outside Switzerland. It is designed to help disseminate Swiss performing arts internationally by enabling productions and performances by Swiss companies and artists to reach audiences at recognized international venues and festivals. Pro Helvetia states it supports projects that are cross-regionally or internationally recognized, and it promotes professional contemporary Swiss art and cultural production (excluding film) with national and international reach. Funding and Benefits Pro Helvetia support is structured around the costs relevant to guest performance travel and related expenses: - Travel and transport cost basis (rule): As a rule, support is based on travel and transport costs from the company’s headquarters. - Guest performances without travel costs (e.g., digital or hybrid): Funding may cover some realisation costs, such as technology or adaptation. - Lump sum for distribution work (independent companies and artists only): A lump sum can be applied for between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000 per guest performance venue, depending on project size and complexity. - Authors’ rights, accommodation, and daily allowances: The venue is expected to pay an appropriate fee and cover these costs for authors’ rights, accommodation, and daily allowances (see selection criteria).

- CO₂ compensation: CO₂ compensation can be covered by Pro Helvetia.

- Amount structure: The source distinguishes between funding requests up to CHF 25,000, CHF 25,001–50,000, and over CHF 50,000 for submission timing and decision timelines. The specific grant percentage or maximum per project is not specified in the source. Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicants - Performing arts companies and artists from Switzerland. Eligible practice areas (exclusive to these performing arts forms) This support is aimed exclusively at companies and artists active in: - Dance - Theatre - Music theatre - Contemporary circus - Street performances - “Kleinkunst” Geographic focus - The guest performances must take place outside Switzerland at nationally renowned venues and festivals. General requirements (apply in addition to guest-performance specifics) Pro Helvetia will only consider applications that are complete and submitted on time. To be eligible for support, projects must: - Have a clear connection to Switzerland - Be of nationwide importance - Be adequately co-funded by other public or private means - Respect/guarantee fair working conditions Connection to Switzerland (examples of when it applies) A connection to Switzerland is given if, for example: - The production/project is developed or implemented by artists/cultural practitioners who verifiably hold Swiss citizenship or are permanent residents, and who are regularly artistically involved in relevant events in Switzerland; or - The project is created/developed/implemented by an independent group or cultural institution whose place of production is in Switzerland and that is regularly and publicly active in Switzerland. Nationwide relevance (examples of when it applies) Nationwide relevance may be present if, for example: - Participants are regularly involved in programmes of nationally recognized institutions in other Swiss regions or abroad and the project has transregional appeal; or - An emerging practitioner has exceptional artistic potential for a national or international career; or - The project significantly contributes to Swiss artistic and cultural production and its dissemination; or - The project is significant for exchange between Switzerland’s linguistic regions. Restrictions (important exclusions) Pro Helvetia states it cannot consider funding requests if, among other reasons: - The same part of the submitted project already receives funding from other federal bodies (examples listed by Pro Helvetia include Federal Office of Culture and Presence Switzerland) - The project is part of a school/university curriculum or basic training/continuing education program - Funding is intended to cover infrastructure/equipment or operating cultural facilities, archives, and collections - The project does not depend on Pro Helvetia