STUDIOS FOREIGN

THE STRUCTURE OF THE CULTURAL PROMOTION IN SWITZERLAND

Switzerland is composed of 26 largely autonomous cantons. So promotion of culture is within the competence of the cantons and of the communities, too. Before the new federal constitution came into force on January 2000, there was no legal base for actif promotion of art and cultural exchange in Switzerland, except for cinema and visual art. Nevertheless, the Swiss Confederation has already created in 1939 the Arts Council of Switzerland Pro Helvetia, an instrument – independent in its decisions, but financed by the taxes of the Swiss population – to promote art and culture.
Not only the governmental, but also the private institutions are promoting culture. Their contribution is important to the total volume of the disposable funds.
Confederation, cantons and communities, but also private institutions support studios in Switzerland and abroad which are offered – under different conditions – to Swiss and foreign artists.