Ongoing Grant Programme

Submission guidelines

The Südkulturfonds supports non-commercial cultural projects in the fields of music, performing arts, visual arts, film, literature and transdisciplinarity with artists from eligible countries (see Südkulturfonds’ list of eligible countries). Submission deadlines are linked to the amount of the grant, see submission deadlines below. It is mandatory that projects are submitted together with a partner or venue in Switzerland.

Within the Ongoing Grant Programme there are two types of funding:

1) Project-based funding (under 5,000 CHF).

Applications can be submitted all year round, but no later than four weeks before the start of the project. In the case of project-related funding, the amount of funding is generally based on travel, transport and accommodation costs. A project can be supported with a maximum of CHF 5,000. If several applications are submitted, the maximum annual contribution per applicant is CHF 15,000. The allocated funds will be transferred once you have completed the final report. This should be done within two months of project completion. The final deadline for submitting the statement is 28 February.

2) Programme funding (under CHF 30,000, all disciplines except film*)

The Südkulturfonds supports festivals, seasonal and annual programmes as well as programme focuses that include several performances by artists from the Südkulturfonds’ list of eligible countries.

Applications for this funding can be submitted once a year by 1 February. The selection is made by a transdisciplinary commission. The allocated funds will be transferred once you have completed the final report. This should be done within three months of project completion. The final deadline for submitting the statement is 28 February of the following year.

Conditions for programme funding:

Maximum contribution: CHF 30,000 per application.
Content requirements: Programme includes several artists from the Südkulturfonds country list. Projects with a focus on exchange or capacity building are prioritized.
Submission: Programme applications can be submitted annually by 1 February.
*Exception for film festivals: These can submit applications for up to CHF 50,000 up to three times a year.

The Ongoing Grant Programme supports …

Performances, exhibitions and artistic happenings at Swiss venue.
Tours by artists with at least two confirmed performances in Switzerland and/ or neighbouring countries.
Album, theatre and dance productions with at least two different and confirmed performance venues in Switzerland and/ or nearby Europe.
Residencies of at least three weeks to a maximum of three months. Residencies involve artistic creation in Switzerland and are accompanied by a host (residency venue, event location, publisher, etc.). Also comprising the residency is a moment of public presentation of the artist(s) and their work to an interested audience in Switzerland. Hybrid residency formats, which take place partly in Switzerland and partly online, can be submitted after prior consultation with artlink.
Literary translations into one of the Swiss national languages.
Sur- and subtitling of performances and screenings in Switzerland.
Film series and festivals that involve filmmakers in the accompanying programme. Film festivals can submit project applications for more than CHF 25,000.

The Ongoing Grant Programme does not support…

Advertising and charity events.
Film productions.
Infrastructure and equipment.
Projects in the context of education and training.
Requests from the amateur cultural scene.
Applications that have been submitted after the deadline.
Projects that are already underway or completed and projects without adequate self-funding and/or without coherent financing plan.
Funding requests for projects or parts thereof that are already supported by other federal agencies.

Application requirements and priorities

An application must contain the following

Description of the concept and implementation plan of the project.
Details of the persons and institutions involved.
Launch of the project.
Balanced budget and coherent financing plan.
The requested amount must be clearly shown as a comprehensible deficit.

Südkulturfonds prioritises projects…

With artists living and working in the following countries and regions: Südkulturfonds’ list of eligible countries.
with artists who are at the beginning of their artistic career (2-10 years).
with artists who have given more than two performances in Switzerland or in neighbouring countries.
of high artistic quality and originality.
which are implemented according to professional standards.
which are supported by various funding institutions (municipalities, cantons, foundations).
with a convincing concept for distribution/ dissemination and or promotion.
that demonstrate equal cooperation between all project participants at eye level.
that bring together different disciplines (transdisciplinarity).
that strive for equal opportunities and diversity (e.g.gender).

When assessing applications, the experts of the Südkulturfonds attach importance to the responsible and sustainable use of the funding.

Submission deadlines

Applications must be submitted at least four weeks before the start of the project.

Project contributions under CHF 5,000: four weeks before the start of the project at the latest

Programme contributions under CHF 30,000: 1 February

Film*-related contributions: 1 February, 31 May, 15 November

*Film-related applications over CHF 30,000 must be submitted at least two months before the start of the project and only in consultation with artlink.

Decision-makers

Applications under CHF 5,000 are assessed by the artlink office on an ongoing basis. Applications of CHF 5,000 or more are assessed together with external experts. The office appoints the experts for a limited term of three years. We strive to ensure that the commissions are diverse in terms of origin, gender, age and social class.

Current experts: Laurence Desarzens, Lausanne (Music), Kadiatou Diallo, Basel (Performing arts), Anne Delseth, Paris (Film), Justine Moeckli, Geneva (Visual Arts), Gabriela Stöckli, Zürich (literature).

Fim contributions of more than CHF 30,000 also require the approval of the Südkulturfonds Steering Group, consisting of representatives of artlink and the SDC's Culture and Development Division.

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