RFAs: International Presence Support for Swiss Musicians (Switzerland)

Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council) offers the “International presence” funding track to support international tours and performances by Swiss musicians at major festivals and venues. The programme is aimed at nationally established ensembles, bands, and musicians from Switzerland and provides financial contributions based on travel/transport and booking/acquisition costs. For many requests, applications are accepted open year-round, with additional deadline cycles for higher funding amounts (see deadlines below). Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding organization: Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council)

- Opportunity name: International presence

- Opportunity type: Grant for international tours and performances by Swiss musicians

- Target group: Practitioners with a connection to Switzerland

- Eligible applicants: Nationally established ensembles, bands, and musicians from Switzerland

- Eligible purpose: International tours and performances by Swiss musicians at major festivals and venues

- Geographic focus (where projects occur): Not specified in the source; international tours/venues are supported

- Application window:

- Up to CHF 25,000: Open year-round

- CHF 25,001–50,000: Open year-round

- Over CHF 50,000: Deadline cycles: 1 September, 1 December, 1 March, 1 June

- Earliest project start date:

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

- Over CHF 25,000: Four months after submitting the application

(For CHF 25,001–50,000, the source states four months after submitting the application.)

- Decision timeline:

- Up to CHF 25,000: Within eight weeks

- Over CHF 25,000: Within four months (and within four months for CHF 25,001–50,000 as well)

- Source status note: Status listed as September 2025 on the general requirements section

About the Opportunity

The “International presence” grant supports international tours and performances by Swiss musicians at major festivals and venues. It is intended to help Swiss performers disseminate Swiss art and cultural production outside Switzerland while maintaining professional and sustainable working practices. As a national foundation, Pro Helvetia supplements promotional activities of Swiss cantons and municipalities and supports projects that are cross-regionally or internationally recognised. Funding and Benefits

The grant is based on:

- Travel and transport costs (excluding accommodation costs) - Booking and acquisition costs The source does not specify a fixed grant size or a per-recipient maximum beyond the funding request thresholds used for deadlines and decision timelines (up to CHF 25,000; CHF 25,001–50,000; over CHF 50,000). Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicant types - Nationally established ensembles, bands, and musicians from Switzerland Connection to Switzerland (project-level eligibility) Pro Helvetia indicates a connection to Switzerland if one of the following applies: - The production/project is developed or implemented by artists and cultural practitioners who verifiably hold Swiss citizenship or are permanent residents of Switzerland 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. General project eligibility conditions To be eligible for support, projects must (as stated in the general requirements): - 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 Important application completeness rule Pro Helvetia will only consider funding applications if they are: - Complete, and - Submitted on time Restrictions (not eligible) Funding requests are not considered if, for example: - The same part of the submitted project is already funded by other federal bodies (e.g., Federal Office of Culture, Presence Switzerland, Swiss National Science Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) - The project is part of a school/university curriculum or basic/continuing education (including dissertations, diploma projects, university scholarships, etc.) - Funding is intended to cover infrastructure/equipment or operating costs for cultural facilities, archives, and collections - The project does not depend on funding from Pro Helvetia - The project requires travel to regions for which the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) advises against travel at the time of application Eligible Activities or Priority Areas What the grant supports (specific “International presence” criteria)

Applications should be for:

- International tours and performances by Swiss musicians at major festivals and venues Specific selection criteria Pro Helvetia lists the following criteria for this funding track: - Musicians are nationally established and perform regularly at renowned venues in Switzerland and abroad. - The tour includes original compositions and/or works by contemporary composers from Switzerland. - Event organisers pay appropriate fees and cover local accommodation costs. - Priority is given to projects with sustainable use of resources, particularly when large distances are covered (e.g., coherent routing, selection of means of transport, and other activities in artistic exchange or local networking). Any additional costs tied to this may be taken into account. General assessment of content and quality Within available funds, Pro Helvetia prioritises projects that most comprehensively meet the criteria, assessing factors such as: - Independence and professional competence, including social and thematic relevance - Implementation according to professional standards - Costs commensurate with expected impact - Expected lasting impact - Commitment to diversity - Ecologically responsible use of resources and sustainable planning Why This Opportunity Matters This grant is designed for Swiss