South Culture Fund

A bridge between Switzerland’s cultural scene and the world: The South Culture Fund supports productions and events in Switzerland by and with artists from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

WHAT IS THE SOUTH CULTURE FUND?

The South Culture Fund finances guest performances and residencies in Switzerland by cultural practitioners from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe – regions where artists often have limited access to international networks and funding schemes. It also provides other opportunities for exchange and collaboration for these cultural practitioners. The fund is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and managed by artlink. 

The South Culture Fund offers two types of funding opportunities:

  • Ongoing Grants: This funding scheme enables venues and museums in Switzerland to invite artists from the above-mentioned regions by contributing towards travel and other related costs. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis.
  • Open Calls: These targeted calls for proposals focus on different thematic, regional or disciplinary priorities and are aimed directly at artists in their respective regions. Current open calls are published on the South Culture Fund website.

IN SHORT

  • Mandate by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
  • Since 2007 (based on the South Fund, established in 1991)
  • Directed at organisers and venues in Switzerland; artists and organisers/venues in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe 
     

WHY IS THE SOUTH CULTURE FUND IMPORTANT?

Cultural practitioners from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe gain income opportunities and access to European funding programmes. In this way, the fund contributes to reducing global inequalities in the cultural sector. Each year, around 450 projects by artists from approximately 50 countries come to Switzerland through the fund. They enrich the country with a wide range of stories, perspectives and voices. The fund not only fosters long-term working relationships between cultural practitioners and organisations across continents; it also creates spaces for exchange, dialogue and social cohesion in Switzerland. Its impact thus extends far beyond the cultural sector. 

 

Take a look at the results from the Open Call 'Incubator':

How to apply


Are you a cultural organiser based in Switzerland planning to host a guest performance or exhibition featuring artists from Africa, Asia, Latin America or Eastern Europe (from non-EU countries)? Please find all information about eligibility criteria, eligible countries of origin and the application form on the South Culture Fund website. 

A selection of past open calls

Incubator (2023/2024)

In the ‘Incubator’ open call (2023/2024), six cultural practitioners from around the world developed a workshop each on topics such as food security, migration, Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean cosmogonies, gender equality and climate protection. Through this process, they strengthened their skills in designing, delivering and facilitating engaging digital and in-person workshops. 

airtime! (2022)

From the sounds of the Vogue and ballroom scene in Cape Town to a Nepalese folk tale transformed into music: ten music and sound creators each produced a radio show as part of the Open Call 'airtime!' (2022), which was broadcast on partner stations Radio X (Basel), Radio RaBe (Bern), Radio3Fach (Lucerne), Kanal K (Aarau), and Radio Gwendalyn (Chiasso). 'airtime!' gave musicians from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe the opportunity to present their music in Switzerland during the pandemic, despite travel restrictions.

100 Artists (2022)

We invited early career artists and art collectives working across all disciplines to submit their artist profile video.

Who: Artists and art collectives across all art forms who were both from and based in pre-listed countries in Africa, Latin America, Southeast and Southwest Asia and East Europe (Non-EU countries). The call for entries specifically supported artists and art collectives who were in the early stage of their careers with 2-10 years of professional experience.

Field: All disciplines