History

Switzerland’s First Federal Cultural Institutions
In 1888, the Federal Art Commission is established.
1890 sees the founding of the Swiss National Museum (in Zurich) and the Swiss National Library (in Bern).

Spiritual National Defence
Politicians, intellectuals and journalists across party lines band together to demand a policy of “spiritual national defence” to help protect Switzerland from the Fascist threat posed by neighbouring countries.

A Parliamentary Motion
19 June: Fritz Hauser, a member of Parliament from Basel, proposes a motion urging the Federal Council take steps to protect Swiss identity following the rise to power of Hitler and Mussolini. A week later, the Swiss writers’ association makes the same demand.

A Federal Foundation for Culture
12 November: The Neue Helvetische Gesellschaft (New Helvetic Society) joins in the discussion and presents a plan for a “Helvetic Foundation.”
09 December: The Federal Council publishes a Dispatch on cultural policy “concerning the duty and the means of preserving and promoting Swiss culture.” It includes the idea of a federally-funded foundation for culture.

Pro Helvetia
5 April: The proposal for a cultural foundation is approved by federal decree, just a few months before the outbreak of the Second World War.
20 October: Originally planned as a private foundation, Pro Helvetia is transformed into a cooperative council regulated by public law.
Its first president is former Federal Councillor Heinrich Häberlin. Its director for the next nineteen years is Karl Naef; as secretary of the writers’ association, he had helped launch the debate about federal cultural policy. The council’s goal is to preserve “the spiritual independence of culture” in Switzerland in the face of the dangers represented by Nazi Germany and its Fascist propaganda.

Hirschengraben 22
In April, Pro Helvetia moves into its new quarters at Hirschengraben 22, in Zurich. From the very beginning, the cooperative council is subsidiary to the cantons and municipalities, and operates on the basis of applications received. In the early years, its budget (500,000 Swiss francs) is divided between two groups: one half is allocated to the “People” division, the other to the “Army” (also known as “Army and Home”) division.

New Duties
21 March: Pro Helvetia is assigned new duties, with an emphasis on promoting exchange and dialogue, as well as a focus on activities outside of Switzerland. The goal: breaking out of the spiritual and cultural “fortress mentality” of the war years.

An Autonomous Foundation
28 September: A federal decree transforms the cooperative council into an autonomous foundation regulated by public law. The “Army” division is dissolved.

Funding for Research
The Swiss National Science Foundation is established.

First Yearbook
Pro Helvetia publishes its first yearbook, summarizing its activities of the past several years. From then on, the publication appears yearly and serves as a source of information for members of parliament as well as the general public.

The Pro Helvetia Law
17 December: The federal government passes a law dedicated to Pro Helvetia; it establishes a legal basis for the Arts Council’s organization and activities. Pro Helvetia’s responsibilities include:

• preserving and protecting Switzerland’s unique cultural heritage
• supporting artistic creation
• promoting cultural exchange between linguistic regions and cultural spheres within Switzerland
• maintaining cultural relations abroad

The Clottu Commission
The Federal Department of Home Affairs establishes a commission to be chaired by Gaston Clottu and charged with evaluating the state of cultural
affairs and activities in Switzerland.

Around the World
With the exhibition La Suisse présente la Suisse (“Switzerland presents Switzerland”) in Dakar, Senegal, Pro Helvetia supports a large-scale project on the African continent for the first time. After having focused its support on projects in the USA and Europe, in the following years Pro Helvetia broadens its scope to include projects around the world.

The Clottu Report
The Clottu Commission publishes its five-hundred-page final report on the state of cultural activities in Switzerland. It recommends adding an article on culture to the Swiss Constitution, and dividing cultural affairs among several administrative bodies, which leads to the establishment of the Federal Office of Culture in 1978. In addition, the report recommends intensifying cultural exchange within Switzerland and abroad. Suggestions include a focus on the periphery and the creation of a proactive foreign service for Pro Helvetia.

For the first time in the history of its activities abroad, Pro Helvetia organizes an event series lasting several months: entitled “Espace,” it takes place in the premises of the Swiss Tourist Office in Paris and includes exhibitions, theatre performances, film evenings and concerts. It is also the first time that Pro Helvetia mounts a large-scale project without the participation of diplomatic representatives.

In Paris
The Centre Culturel Suisse opens in Paris. Its creation, and the attendant purchase of space in the venerable Hôtel Poussepin in the Marais district, were preceded by a long tug of war between the Pro Helvetia Board of Trustees and the Federal Council, or rather the Federal Department of Home Affairs. A petition and donation drive spearheaded by the francophone weekly “L’Hebdo” helps make the purchase a reality.

Passages
The same year sees the launch of “Passages,” Pro Helvetia’s cultural magazine. Conceived for international circulation at first, it appears in French and German and, as of the fourth issue, in an English edition as well.

In New York
Eröffnung des Swiss Institute in New York, USA.

In a national referendum, Swiss voters reject both the proposal for a “Cultural Initiative” (which would allocate one percent of the annual federal budget to cultural funding), and the Federal Council’s counter-proposal.

In Cairo
Pro Helvetia’s first liaison office opens in Cairo, Egypt.

A new funding stipulation regulates Pro Helvetia’s principal activities: supporting projects through grant applications, and developing its own cultural initiatives, to be called “Programmes.” Examples include Gallerie 57 / 34.6 km (2001 – 2007), which supports cultural activities along the NEAT Alpine tunnel construction route, and echoes – folk culture for tomorrow (2006 – 2008), which encourages crossover between innovative and traditional forms of folk culture.

A Federal Merger
The Federal Office of Cultural Affairs merges with the Swiss National Museum and the National Library to form a new Federal Office of Culture, charged with coordinating all cultural activities, including those previously carried out by the Federal Department of Home Affairs.

In Eastern Europe
After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Pro Helvetia takes over the bureaus opened by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, in order to use them as Antenna offices.

In Geneva
The Antenne Romande for French-speaking Switzerland opens in Geneva.

In Milan
The Centro Culturale Svizzero opens in Milan, Italy.

In Cape Town
A new liaison office opens in Cape Town, South Africa.

International Communication
Presence Switzerland is created. It is responsible for maintaining Switzerland’s image abroad, and for implementing the Federal Council’s strategy on Switzerland’s communication abroad.

A Rise in Funding
1 January 2002: Pro Helvetia introduces some fundamental reforms. The most important change: the maximum amount that the secretariat may independently grant a funding application is raised from 5,000 to 20,000 Swiss francs.

The Hirschhorn Affair
The controversy surrounding Thomas Hirschhorn’s exhibition “Swiss-Swiss Democracy” at the Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris results in a one-time cut of one million Swiss francs to Pro Helvetia’s budget. However,the subsequent investigation by parliamentary administrative controls results in a positive evaluation of the Arts Council.

As part of its newly-defined international strategy, Pro Helvetia adopts the principle of cultural regions: Russia / Siberia; China; India and Southeast Asia; Oceania; Africa; the Middle East. Long-term plans are made to establish branch offices in each of these regions, with the exception of Oceania.

In Rome
The Istituto Svizzero in Rome receives the status of a Pro Helvetia partner institute.

After ten years of developing networks in Eastern Europe, the office in Cracow moves to Warsaw; the offices in Bratislava, Prague and Budapest are closed.

In New Delhi
A liaison office opens in New Delhi, India.
The Antenne Romande in Geneva closes.

The First Law on Culture
11 December: The federal Parliament adopts the first Swiss law on the promotion of culture. From now on, a Federal Dispatch regulating cultural policy and spending on culture is to be submitted to Parliament every four years. Pro Helvetia is also subject to this new law. Pro Helvetia also undergoes some fundamental reforms, including the allocation of additional responsibilities.

The online application portal “myprohelvetia” is launched this same year.

In Shanghai
A liaison office opens in Shanghai, China.

First Dispatch on Culture
1 January: The new federal law on the promotion of culture and the first Dispatch on culture come into effect. Among its new activities, Pro Helvetia assumes responsibility for the support of up-and-coming artists, art education, art biennials and the Swiss presence at international book fairs – areas previously under the auspices of the Federal Office of Culture. In return, film promotion and support for publishing are transferred to the FOC.

February: The liaison office in South Africa moves from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

Withdrawal from Warsaw
The office in Warsaw closes. From now on, joint cultural activities between this region and Switzerland are to be handled through the Zurich office, asis the case for all EU member states.

Second Dispatch on Culture
Parliament approves the second Dispatch on culture for the period 2016 – 2020. During the five years to come, Pro Helvetia plans to support Swiss art and artists, encourage cohesion within the country, and expand the presence of Swiss arts and culture on an international scale. In addition, an initiative entitled “Culture and Economy” aims to coordinate support for design and interactive digital media.

Launch of the culture and business initiative
An initiative by Pro Helvetia to develop models for promoting projects in the fields of design and interactive media. The focus is on the projects’ artistic quality and on their innovation and market potential.

New liaison office in Moscow
On 25 February Pro Helvetia opens its latest liaison office in the centre of Moscow. The step was preceded by «Swiss Made in Russia», a cultural exchange programme between Switzerland and Russia that has been running since 2012.

Start of COINCIDENCIA programme
COINCIDENCIA boosts cultural exchange between Switzerland and South America and explores possibilities of establishing a liaison office in the region.

Golden Lion at Venice Architecture Biennale
May: The Swiss contribution «Svizzera 240: House Tour» (submitted by ETH architects Alessandro Bosshard, Li Tavor, Matthew van der Ploeg and Ani Vihervaara) was awarded the Golden Lion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale.

Refurbishment and inauguration
After a complete refurbishment of the head office building commissioned by the City of Zurich, the Swiss Arts Council is moving back into its traditional premises at Haus zum Lindengarten.

Third Federal Cultural Policy Statement
26 February: The Federal Council adopts its Cultural Policy Statement for the period 2021–2024. The Statement maintains the three previous strategic lines of action of the Confederation’s cultural policy — cultural participation, social cohesion, creation and innovation — and expands these to include the digital transformation in cultural promotion. The Cultural Policy Statement was approved by Parliament on 25 September 2020.

Commitment and Support during Covid 19
Since the onset of the pandemic, the Swiss Arts Council has been working with the Federal Office of Culture on behalf of the Federal Council to propose emergency aid and financial compensation for the cultural sector. The proposed measures were adopted on 20 March and subsequently implemented by the cantons and Suisseculture Sociale. As part of its activities, Pro Helvetia made its criteria for project submissions more flexible. It also launched various calls for applications for new artistic formats («Close Distance» and «To-Gather») that enable cultural exchange, art production and reception despite restrictions on the freedom of movement and holding public gatherings. The pandemic has necessitated many fundamental adjustments in cultural production, practice and consumption: Pro Helvetia takes these challenges into account in order to sustainably accompany the transformation of the cultural sector by critically reviewing its funding instruments in all disciplines and by adapting existing instruments to the changed circumstances where necessary.

Division of Design and Interactive Media
January: Design and interactive media become an integral part of the Swiss Arts Council’s regular funding activities for the first time, and a separate division is established to implement and oversee the new measures.

New Liaison Office in South America
January: Following the four-year programme «COINCIDENCIA – Cultural Exchange Switzerland – South America», Pro Helvetia opened a permanent liaison office in South America. In order to account for the continent’s cultural and linguistic diversity as well as its geographical dimensions, the liaison office comprises, network-like, four staffed locations in Santiago de Chile (headquarters), São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Bogotá.

Equal Opportunities/Equality in the Cultural Sector
June: Pro Helvetia, together with the Swiss Centre for Social Research, commissions the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Basel to conduct a preliminary study on equal opportunities/equality in the Swiss cultural sector (2019). This study, limited to four disciplines (music, performing arts, literature and visual arts), revealed that women are strikingly underrepresented in the Swiss cultural sector in many areas, both in terms of structure and content (offerings and programmes).

Renovation and Modernisation of the Centre culturel suisse in Paris 
August: Renovation begins at the Centre culturel suisse in Paris (CCS) under architects Thomas Raynaud (Paris) and Truwant + Rodet + (Basel), selected and commissioned by a jury comprising members of the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FOBL) and Pro Helvetia. Refurbishment aims to modernise the premises, harmonise and redesign its rooms and improve user-friendliness. The CSS is scheduled to reopen in 2025.