Report creation date: 14.10.2008 - 11:54
Countr(y/ies): Switzerland
Chapter(s):
1,2,21,22,23,24,241,242,243,244,245,246,3,31,32,33,4,41,42,421,422,423,424,425,426,427,428,429,4210,43,5,51,511,512,513,514,515,516,517,518,519,52,53,531,532,533,534,535,536,537,538,539,5310,6,61,62,63,64,7,71,72,73,8,81,811,812,813,82,821,822,83,831,832,84,841,842,9,91,92
Switzerland/ 1. Historical
perspective: cultural policies and instruments
Federal involvement in the
development of Swiss cultural policy gained a new, more modern momentum
following the transformation of Pro Helvetia (otherwise known as the Arts
Council of Switzerland) into a public foundation in 1949. Up until this time,
support for culture was derived mainly from the cantons and cities. Federal
support for cultural activities was minimal with the exception of resources
provided to build the Swiss National Library and National Museum. Today,
federal involvement in cultural life has increased. However, the cantons and
cities continue to provide the majority of resources to support cultural
activities.
During the 1950s, there were signs
that the quality of life in Switzerland was improving. General rates of
participation in cultural life increased parallel to rising levels of
education, wide spread use of the mass media and a reduction in the amount of
hours devoted to working life. At the same time traditional structures,
including the family, were breaking up and the sprawl of urbanisation was
expanding. The arts tried to address these societal developments on various
levels which led to a broader mandate and definition of culture.
Until the end of the 1960s / early
1970s, culture was mainly considered a private matter in Switzerland. Although
culture was founded by the cities, the cantons and the Swiss Confederation,
there was almost no public discussion on it. In the early 1970s, discussion on
cultural policy intensified and resulted in the establishment of a legal basis
and public mission for Pro Helvetia; the creation of a temporary Federal
Commission of Experts for Swiss Cultural Matters (the Clottu Commission, 1969);
the Conference of Swiss Cities on Cultural Matters (KSK, 1970); and the
establishment of a separate Federal Office for Culture in 1975.
While the concept of culture was
being broadened, culture as an important dimension in many policy sectors was
being discussed. National cohesion (identity) and diversity as well as the
growing gaps between the cities and rural areas became central issues in this
context.
There were several strategic
cultural policy papers presented during the 1980s which tried to secure a
fundamental basis for culture on many policy levels as well as make proposals
for programmes. For example, in 1980 the federal government presented its first
explicit proposal for culture in the Parliament and in 1984 the Conference of
Swiss Cities on Cultural Matters (KSK) presented its first paper about cultural
policy on the local level. In 1986, a civic initiative and ensuing (yet
unsuccessful) referendum intended to introduce general aspects of cultural
policy into the Federal Constitution. Attention given to cultural exchanges
with foreign countries increased during this time.
During the 1980s, there was a
growing interest on the part of the cantons and cities to increase their
support to cultural activities. This interest manifested itself into action and
the realisation that a more comprehensive structure for cultural policy at the
local level was required. Toward the end of the 1980s, evaluation of cultural
policies appeared on political agendas and the Conference of Cultural
Representatives of the Cantons and the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK)
were established.
Public budgets were cut in the early
1990s. Responsibilities between the different levels of government in the field
of culture needed to be more clearly defined in areas such as support to
institutions of national interest, equality between different language regions
of the country and foreign policy. There was also renewed interest in pursuing
scientific debates about culture and cultural policy as well as continuing public
discussions on the establishment of a constitutional basis for cultural
competencies.
Today, culture is an element in
different policy fields. In the context of globalisation, for example, the
Swiss government has given cultural foreign policy a new priority. Other
important subjects of the national debate are the role of culture in the field
of national cohesion (including the discussion of a language and minority
policy) or the establishment of a Swiss-wide memo-policy. Also, the debate
about cultural industries as part of a future orientated cultural policy is new
on the agenda.
With the new millennium, the age old
debates on establishing a constitutional basis for culture and the pursuit of a
federal model for cultural policy development have taken an important step
forward. On the legal base of the revised constitution, a cultural support law
is currently being drafted under the leadership of the Federal Office of
Cultural Affairs (BAK). It will be proposed to the Parliament in January 2008.
At the same time the Law on Pro Helvetia will be revised, aiming towards
a better co-ordination of the foundation's activities, mainly with the Federal
Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK) in Switzerland and abroad. Both laws will not
be in force before 2010.
Switzerland/ 2. Competence,
decision-making and administration
2.1 Organisational structure
(organigram)
Description: The upper half of the
graph shows the distribution of funds for culture among the different levels of
government and the important contribution made by the private sector. It also
illustrates the principle of the double subsidiarity (bottom-up approach). The
share of federal government expenditure for culture is quite modest in
comparison to the others; in most cases, it only intervenes in those fields for
which the cities and cantons do not consider themselves responsible.
The lower half of the graph
illustrates the important players on the federal level. The various structures
of support for culture provided by the level of the cities and the cantons are
quite heterogeneous and cannot be reduced to one basic model. They range from
operationally separate cultural administrations with advisory boards in most of
the cantons and big cities to (ad hoc) committees in smaller cities which are
in charge of both education and culture. The following Table may serve as an
example:
Table 1:
Example for structures of the cultural administration in 2 cantons and 2
cities, 2002
|
|
Structure of the cultural
administration |
Fulltime jobs |
Budget (gross) |
Budget (net) |
Budget (operative, without
infrastructure and transfers to cultural institutions) |
Inhabitants |
|
Canton Zurich |
fine arts, dance / theatre, music,
film, literature* |
5.2
+ advisory board |
132
Mio. CHF |
132
Mio. CHF |
7.1
Mio. CHF |
~1.2
Mio. |
|
City of Zurich |
fine arts, off-dance, off-theatre,
jazz / rock / pop, classical music, film, literature* |
~
40 |
135
Mio CHF** |
78
Mio. CHF |
5.8
Mio. CHF |
~365 000 |
|
Canton Valais |
department not structured in
different sections |
<2
+ advisory board |
|
|
~1
Mio. CHF |
~270 000 |
|
City of Brig |
department not structured in
different sections |
<1
+ advisory board |
|
|
<
150 000 CHF |
~10 000 |
Source:
cantonal and communal administrations, figures: 2002.
*
common structure between city and canton.
**
including transfer funds for burden sharing between the canton and the cities /
communities.
Switzerland/ 2. Competence,
decision-making and administration
2.2 Overall description of the
system
The current constitutional basis
confines federal involvement in cultural policy to a small number of
fields such as support to film production, protection of nature and heritage,
education and cultural activities of national interest including foreign
affairs. There are 26 cantons and more than 2 800 cities /
communities in Switzerland. They are the major players in cultural
promotion and they set their own priorities and act mostly independently from
one another. The 5 major / largest cities including Zurich, Lausanne, Bern,
Bale and Geneva play a particularly important role and determine the cultural
discourse. Altogether they provide over 80% of the financing for culture on the
city-level, despite the fact that they each have a different cultural policy
programme, administration and budget.
The great heterogeneity among the
cantons, cities and communities only enables an outlining of a range of
activities which are realised with less or more emphasis according to the
financial situation, the number of inhabitants, cultural traditions and other
players:
- definition of cultural policy programmes;
- support of institutions, organisations, programmes and
individuals;
- operation of their own programmes and institutions; and
- presentation of prizes and rewards.
The main federal players, however,
can be described in a more direct way:
The Federal Office of Cultural
Affairs (BAK) acts under the responsibility
of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (EDI) and is the expert authority of
the Swiss Confederation for issues on cultural policy, cultural promotion and
cultural preservation. It supports the development and implementation of
cultural policy on the federal level and prepares decisions to be taken by
Parliament. It also plays an important role in the fields of general interest
like language policy, minorities, etc. The BAK directly supports film
production, visual arts and design and gives grants to professional artists'
associations and lobby groups.
The Pro Helvetia Foundation, otherwise known as the Arts Council of Switzerland, is 100%
funded by the government. It acts independently in fields such as visual arts,
music, literature and humanities, theatre, dance, culture and society by
supporting and generating projects (passive and proactive role). Outside
Switzerland, Pro Helvetia maintains four liaison offices: in Cairo, Warsaw,
Cape Town and New Delhi. It runs the cultural centre in Paris and is the
principal financial backer of the Istituto Svizzero di Roma (in a partnership
with the State Secretariat for Education and Research (SBF), since July 2005)
and the Swiss Institute in New York. Pro Helvetia provides an important
information and publication service for culture in several languages.
For the last few years, Pro Helvetia
has been going through a process of structural reform. The present discussion
on the Pro Helvetia Law is to be completed by 2010, giving the
co-ordination with other players a better focus.
Within the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs (EDA), the Culture Foreign Policy Centre (KKA) is
responsible, among other things, for implementing the department's cultural
foreign policy, realizing cultural projects in co-operation with Swiss
delegations abroad and representing Swiss policy at the UNESCO.
Within the same department, the
organisation "Presence Switzerland" (PRS) promotes the image of the
country abroad, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (DEZA)
provides support for the promotion of the arts and culture of developing
countries both in Switzerland and in their respective countries via art
exhibitions, concerts or film festivals.
Private players like sponsors, foundations etc., play a major role in
the Swiss cultural sector as compared to other European countries (see 
chapter
2.1 and chapter
7.3). This is due to the historic tradition of private involvement in
cultural promotion (see chapter
1) as well as the system of double subsidiarity whereby the allocation of
public finances is considered practically conditional upon the inclusion of
private engagement.
Switzerland/ 2. Competence,
decision-making and administration
2.3 Inter-ministerial or
intergovernmental co-operation
The Conference of Cultural
Representatives of the Cantons and the Conference of Swiss Cities on Cultural
Matters (KSK) were created more as discussion forums than horizontal
coordination bodies. Both meet biannually and invite representatives of the
Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK) and the Pro Helvetia Foundation to
attend as observers. There is little cooperation between the two conferences.
Nevertheless, in the field of education (cultural education) co-operation
between the federal government and the cantons takes place regularly.
The main federal players also
operate independently of one other with the exception of certain areas such as
the promotion of Swiss culture abroad. An informal "pentapartite"
committee has been set up to coordinate these efforts. Members of the committee
include the Culture Foreign Policy Centre (KKA), Presence Switzerland (PRS),
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (DEZA) (all three ministries
for foreign affairs), the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK) and Pro
Helvetia.
In conjunction with the new Cultural
Promotion Law and the Pro Helvetia Law, the federal government is to
develop a quadrennial strategy. It will stipulate the key points of cultural
promotion policy to be routinely pursued by the federal government through its
institutions, the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK), Pro Helvetia and
the anticipated Swiss National Museum.
Plans to involve the cantons,
cities, private cultural institutes, artists' organisations and author's rights
societies in a coordination platform with federal authorities are seen as
long-term goals to be implemented in liaison with the federal government's
strategy - which is adjoined to a new federal law on culture to be discussed in
Parliament in January 2008.
Switzerland/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.1 Overview of main structures
and trends
International cultural cooperation
on all levels is crucial for Switzerland. The Federal Department of Foreign
Affairs, Pro Helvetia, the cantons and cities play an important role in
international co-operation.
Pro Helvetia (otherwise known as the Arts Council of Switzerland) works
directly with foreign partners. The Foundation's work is based on the principle
that Swiss foreign policy is not only about one-way relations with countries
abroad, but about developing awareness of Swiss culture within third countries
and vice-versa.
Switzerland/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.2 Public actors and cultural
diplomacy
Pro Helvetia (otherwise known as the Arts Council of Switzerland) works
directly with foreign partners using a system of satellite offices. Local
contact offices run by local agents are to be opened in selected key countries.
The Swiss Agency for Development (DEZA) is to stipulate the key countries
accordingly.
The Federal Department of Foreign
Affairs (EDA) supports cultural activities via its network of embassies abroad,
e.g., through the contacts and infrastructure of these embassies, or through
its transport facilities. The cantons and cities also play an important role in
facilitating partnerships.
Switzerland/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.3 European / international
actors and programmes
Depending on the issue, the Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) or the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs
(BAK) represents Switzerland in international organisations like UNESCO or the
Council of Europe.
As a non-member state of the EU,
Switzerland has limited access to European programmes. Nevertheless,
Switzerland joined the EU MEDIA-programme in 2006, which is an important
step forward for the film sector. The cantons are the main authorities
responsible for cross-border co-operation which takes place within the
framework of the Interreg-programmes of the EU or the Euregios.
Switzerland/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.4 Direct professional
co-operation
Projects are to be prepared on Pro
Helvetia's activities with its satellite offices in the Swiss Agency for
Development (DEZA)-designated key countries in order to facilitate a direct exchange
between professional cultural producers in Switzerland and the corresponding
key countries. It is also often Swiss institutions that invite guests from
particular countries, initiate joint projects or award a contract - one example
being the Filmfestival Freiburg. Professional cooperation occurs both by way of
public cultural promotion as well as through private activities. Increasingly
popular are the temporary guest residencies in studios provided by cantons or
cities to foreign cultural producers, enabling an exchange between the local
professional scene and countries abroad. The Canton of Wallis provides three
such studios for translation, fine arts and music.
Switzerland/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.5 Cross-border intercultural dialogue
and co-operation
Switzerland's cultural diversity,
large foreign population and small, centralised locationin the heart of Europe
have led to a steady increase in national and transnational intercultural
exchange programmes. Switzerland is a typical immigration and emigration
country, aware that it owes its current standard of living not least to the
economic and cultural exchange provided by its immigrants and emigrants. The
Federal Office for Migration (BAM) and the Centre of Excellence for Cultural
Foreign Policy in the cultural subdivision of the Political Affairs Division V
in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA), and the Federal Office of
Cultural Affairs (BAK), all maintain constant relations with key international
organisations, such as the Council of Europe. There are also institutions at
the intermediary level devoted specifically to this issue. The scientific
studies, evaluations and practice-oriented pilot projects of the Swiss Academy
of Development (SAD), for instance, contribute to the constructive shaping of
collective life in pluralistic societies within and beyond the borders. One if
its projects deals with social problems among youth in North and South
Caucasus. Collaborators include the InterCenter at the Moscow School of Social
and Economic Sciences and the Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation. In its four-year
project, "interkultureller Dialog mit der Türkei" (Intercultural
Dialogue with Turkey), it seeks to offer people a platform for exchanging and
networking. As is also often the case in Swiss foreign cultural and educational
policy, aims vary among those engaged in intercultural dialogues. For this
reason, a governmental programme collectively followed by all participants
cannot really be spoken of here. Transnational exchange programmes or language
stays are also accordingly financed by the participants themselves. And popular
among young people are student exchange programs like Education First or the
AFS intercultural exchanges - neither of which is publicly funded.
For more information, see our Intercultural Dialogue section.
Switzerland/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.6 Other relevant issues
At the city level, as well as at the
communal and cantonal levels, and even in foundations, contacts are maintained
with foreign partners independent of any federal support. Cities and cantons
often maintain their own studios abroad, one example being the canton of
Freiburg, which has studios in Berlin, Paris, Barcelona and New York. Few
studios, on the other hand, are provided by the federal government. Instead,
joint projects are typically carried out directly by means of cooperations with
foreign cities, regions or foundations and through the facilitation of foreign
organizers. By way of grants, for instance, a cultural producer is enabled a
stay abroad. This kind of direct contact bypasses governmental institutions at
the federal level, enabling spontaneous collaborations and intercultural
networks to form while keeping bureaucratic red tape to a minimum.
At the city level, as well as at the
communal and cantonal levels, and even in foundations, contacts are maintained
with foreign partners independent of any federal support. Cities and cantons
often maintain their own studios abroad. The canton of Freiburg has studios in
Berlin, Paris, Barcelona and New York. Cantons and cities enter into
cooperations with foreign cities, regions or foundations and carry out joint
projects facilitated by foreign organizers. These cooperations are not taken up
by governmental institutions at the federal level. This kind of direct contact
enables spontaneous collaborations to form and keeps bureaucratic red tape to a
minimum. By way of grants, a cultural producer is then enabled a stay abroad.
Few studios, on the other hand, are provided by the federal government.
Intercultural networks and co-operation develop out of this dynamic.
Since Switzerland does not see
itself as a nation in the truest sense of the word, the Swiss diaspora's role
tends to be peripheral. The waves of emigration to neighboring countries (e.g.,
Valser settlements) and to South America become less importance when viewed in
this regard, since the loss of language and culture gradually weakens ties to
Switzerland. Swiss associations abroad lean more toward cultural preservation
and play a negligible role in the cultural exchange with foreign countries. The
reverse is evident domestically, where the foreign diaspora play an important role
(e.g., Muslim or Jewish inhabitants or individuals from Armenia or Sri Lanka,
just to name a few. See chapter
4.2.1).
Switzerland/ 3. General objectives
and principles of cultural policy
3.1 Main elements of the current
cultural policy model
The two main elements of the Swiss
(cultural) policy model are: federalism and double subsidiarity.
For Swiss cultural policy, federalism
means that measures are decided upon and implemented on a local and regional
level which is considered to be closer to the artists' voices and their needs. Double
subsidiarity means on the one hand, that in the case of financial need
public resources for culture are provided to the cities by the cantons and to
the cantons by the federal government (bottom-up approach). On the other hand,
private sector support via foundations or private sponsorship is almost
conditional or a requirement in order to receive public grants. The private
sector acts as a kind of guarantor in providing the matching funds required to
receive public money.
The result is a multi-player-system
with various forms of collaboration which tends to be project-driven. In the
words of Pro Helvetia this means: "Switzerland's cultural tapestry is a
patchwork of twenty-six cantonal approaches rather than a single, national
design. Like education, support to the arts is a cantonal responsibility."
Because of the flexibility of the
Swiss model, there are some inherent difficulties such as duplication or an
overlap of efforts. Concentrating cultural policy measures on a common goal is
rather difficult and the elaboration of mid and long-term perspectives is quite
a complex task (see chapter
2.3). One of the latest examples of this kind of discussion is the
longstanding debate on the Swiss National Exposition (Expo 02): whether one
sole exposition can reflect the complexity of Swiss culture, what role the
federal government takes, logistically situating the Expo 02 in a linguistic
region, etc. Particularly on the national level, discussions can take years and
at times result in expensive compromises.
Nevertheless, Swiss federalism has
experienced a new orientation in the last few years (see chapter
4.2). Some reasons for this change are to be found, among other things, in
a general internationalisation, in a growing European regionalism and in a new
system of sharing financial or economic burdens among the federation, cantons
and cities. Thus, it is not surprising that cultural policy is also affected by
these tendencies. Efforts towards achieving a common cultural policy framework
between the federal government, cantons and cities are starting to take form,
albeit slowly. Discussions on a new federal law on culture aim at achieving
more efficient coordination among the various players (see chapter
2.3) on the federal level, as well as among the different cantons and
cities.
Switzerland/ 3. General objectives
and principles of cultural policy
3.2 National definition of culture
The principles of federalism and
double subsidiarity combined with the fact that Switzerland has four official
languages and a high number of inhabitants from various cultural backgrounds
(foreigners make up for more than 20% of the Swiss population), make it very
difficult to provide a national definition of culture (see chapter
4.2.1).
The following extract from the Message
about the Financing of Pro Helvetia for the Period 2000-2003 (from the
federal government to the Parliament) still reflects these complexities in an
adequate way:
Switzerland has neither a homogenous
national culture, nor a clear national identity. The common culture is far more
a question of permanent efforts to keep the cultural diversity of our country
alive under a common functional roof. Main aspects of these efforts are
measures for promoting comprehension and solidarity between the different
linguistic regions and cultures of Switzerland. Accordingly cultural projects
are particularly useful to open up dialogue, organise sensible meetings and
consolidate mutual respect. In this sense, culture is asked to reinforce
cohesion in the country through well defined exchange projects.
In the latest discussions on this
subject in Switzerland, a so called three-level model has also been
mentioned which distinguishes between three levels of culture: a first level of
culture in the sense of civilisation (in opposition to brute nature), a second
level of culture in a broader sense (culture enables human beings to understand
themselves and their environment, includes science and research, education and
arts, the act of collecting, preservation and mediation, etc.), and a third
level of culture in a narrower sense (arts, institutions which attempt to
explain and contextualise new tendencies rising from the second level).
Switzerland/ 3. General objectives
and principles of cultural policy
3.3 Cultural policy objectives
As there is no national definition
of culture, it is difficult to point to cultural policy objectives which
reflect the attitudes of the major players in Swiss cultural policy (mainly the
cities and cantons) at the same time.
Nevertheless, in the discussion on a
new federal law on culture, several papers have been developed which outline
cultural policy objectives:
- cultural policy (i.e. on all federalist levels) focuses
on the broad population, on the artists, on cultural institutions and
projects;
- cultural policy means more than promoting culture. It
stands for public discussion on culture, for adequate basic conditions and
for the interests of the artist;
- cultural policy is linked to other policy-fields such
as, e.g.,: city-planning, financial and fiscal policy, tourism, cultural
industries, etc; and
- cultural policy means more than structuring a
determined field; it always has an effect on the society as a whole.
These aims are in line with the
Council of Europe objectives including the promotion of identity, creation,
diversity and access to cultural life. It is important to point out that the
cultural policy objectives of the Council of Europe cannot be considered
enforceable directives. Given the nature of the Swiss model based on federalism
and double subsidiarity, this conclusion might be drawn.
Switzerland/ 4. Current issues in
cultural policy development and debate
4.1 Main cultural policy issues and
priorities
National cohesion - cultivating and
fostering peaceable collective life and mutual understanding among the diverse
cultural communities, both Swiss and foreign - is an ongoing cultural priority
for Switzerland.
Significant to this discussion is
the development of a Language Law. The main tasks of the Law are to
develop guidelines on the use of the official languages in the federal
administration, support student exchanges, establish a scientific institution
on multilingualism, support multilingual cantons and promote the Romansh and
Italian languages in Switzerland. The Language Law was adopted by
Parliament in October 2007. Its objective is to permanently strengthen
multilingualism and national cohesion (for further information see chapter
4.2.2).
Another long-term issue is the need
for a more coherent federal policy of support for culture as well as increased
coordination among cultural institutions of national importance (see chapter
2.3 and chapter
3.1).
The Museum Law, which was referred to
Parliament in September 2007, provides for a restructuring of the "Musée
Suisse Gruppe", comprised of the Landesmuseum and seven additional
federally owned museums. Its intent is to convert this assemblage of museums
into a public-law institution. This would enable Switzerland to obtain a museum
policy for the first time. It stipulates the commitment of all member museums
in the Musée Suisse Gruppe to common goals. These institutions are to exhibit
national history, explore Switzerland's identity and function as a kind of
competency centre to other museums.
The revision of the Swiss Federal
Constitution with a new article on culture and the preparation of a
corresponding law, on the one hand, and the sometimes controversial discussion
on the restructuring of the Pro Helvetia Foundation, on the other, are only two
concrete issues.
Other issues of Swiss national
importance in the last few years (most still current) have included the
discussion of new support schemes (taking into increased account relations between
public support and market structures, cultural industries); support of new
media; discussion on the financing of culture in a broader sense (Law on
Foundations, Lottery Law); the elaboration of an integral concept
(promotion, training, social security) for the dance sector; measures against
illiteracy.
Switzerland/ 4.2 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.1 Cultural minorities, groups
and communities
According to the Swiss Federal
Statistical Office, Switzerland's minorities are only classified according to
their nationality. Further information regarding the composition of groups, or
economic and social relations are currently unavailable.
Despite the Federal Office of
Cultural Affairs (BAK) states that: "Switzerland recognised the Swiss
"Fahrende" as national minority (with the ratification of the
framework convention of the Council of Europe for the protection of national
minorities), and that Yenish is recognised a as territorially not bound
language of Switzerland (with the ratification of the European language
Charter)."
The Yenish (Jenische) are a
subpopulation with emphasis in Switzerland and in the alpine region. They do
not belong linguistically and historically to the Roma. It probably applies
that the Yenish people were formed from religious refugees, war orphans, market
drivers, breakdown craftsmen, circus people in the times of late medieval war
confusions. The Yenish enjoy minority protection in Switzerland.
Being a multilinguistic and
multicultural society, Switzerland is very much concerned with the integration
of various cultural groups, among them Swiss and foreign cultures.
The Federal Office of Cultural
Affairs (BAK) plays an important part in integrating cultural minorities into
Swiss society. For this reason, it played an instrumental role in developing a
new Language Law which is to give precedence to the fact that
Switzerland is a mutlilinguistic and multiethnic society. Concurrently -
together with the national UNESCO commission - it is participating in the
process of elaborating the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion
of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
In most cantons and larger cities,
there are specific departments and public-private initiatives which are paying
special attention to cultural minorities in a variety of ways. The Department
for "Soziokultur" in the city of Zurich, for example, defines its
mission as enabling the "culture of living together" and offers
support in the form of, e.g., sports infrastructure, parties, education,
consulting services, specific youth offers, etc. The
"Begegnungszentrum" (meeting place) in the city of Schaffhausen - an
example of a smaller city - is a private association which offers a wide range
of courses (for example, organised by foreigners for Swiss people), information
in different languages, festivals ...
Nevertheless, the issue remains
permanently on the agenda of political parties at the right end of the
political spectrum who attempt to restrict these offers, reflecting their
hesitation to integrate foreigners. Representative of the current debate is the
discussion regarding naturalisation on the community level (naturalisation
exists in Switzerland on the federal, cantonal and community level.) which is
to be concluded by public vote or by a commission of experts.
Pro Helvetia's legal mission is to
support those activities which promote mutual understanding among the
different cultural communities. The department "Culture &
Society" focuses on the role of art and culture in the social process. It
supports activities that encourage the exchange and the transfer of experience
and projects that use cultural and artistic means to advance public discussion
of timely cultural topics. The accent is on fostering domestic understanding
and intercultural dialogue.
In the areas of cultural mediation,
everyday and folk culture and intercultural dialogue, Pro Helvetia provides
financial support to pilot projects by application, but also initiates projects
in close cooperation with other cultural institutions.
Switzerland/ 4.2 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.2 Language issues and policies
Language policy is an important
issue in the Swiss political debate surrounding social / national
cohesion. Switzerland has four national and three official languages: German
(spoken by 63.7% of the population in 2000), French (20.4%), Italian (6.5%),
Romansh (0.5%) and other languages (9%). See chapter
4.2.1, chapter
5.1.1 and chapter
5.1.9 for more information. A new Language Law was approved by both
chambers of Parliament in October 2007. The Law calls for the implementation of
the following key tasks:
- to form guidelines on the use of the official languages
in the federal administration;
- to support student exchanges;
- to establish a scientific institution on multilingualism;
- to support multilingual cantons; and
- to promote the Romansh and Italian languages in
Switzerland.
An interesting source for Swiss
language policy is the second report by the Federal Council to the attention of
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the application of the
European Charta on regional- and minority-languages.
Specific measures include a federal
government programme to support the preservation and promotion of the Romansh
and Italian languages and cultures in the Cantons of Grisons and Ticino. Pro
Helvetia and other organisations (e.g., "ch-foundation") support
translation of literary and other works from one national language into another
(see chapter
8.1.3). At the international level, Pro Helvetia is actively engaged in the
project, "Halma", established in 2007 by 16 European literary
centres. It takes its philosophy from the game, Halma (Greek for
"jump"), providing ease of mobility among its European centres in the
aim of fostering a flexible network for pursuing translation and research
activities.
And there are also private
initiatives like "TransHelvetia" which organise cooperations and
exchanges between theatre companies in the German and French-speaking parts of
Switzerland.
Also taking place at the moment is
an interesting debate over the first foreign language to be taught in school
systems - should it be one of the three official Swiss languages, or should it
be English? Although from the social / national cohesion point of view would
stand behind choosing one of the three official languages, in the
German-speaking part of Switzerland the tendency is strongly towards choosing
English, due to its international appeal.
Switzerland/ 4.3 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.3 Intercultural dialogue:
actors, strategies, programmes
Switzerland considers itself to be a
multilingual and multicultural country, making for a strong link between
intercultural dialogue and social cohesion.
Discussion on national cohesion,
e.g., the co-existence and mutual understanding of the different cultural
communities - both Swiss and foreign - is a matter of permanent cultural
priority in Switzerland. Accordingly, cultural projects are particularly useful
in opening up dialogue, organising productive meetings and strengthening mutual
respect. Along this line, culture is called upon to reinforce national cohesion
- expressed in the form of well-defined exchange projects. Pro Helvetia, as
well as other organisations, (e.g., the ch Foundation), support the translation
of literary and non-literary works from one national language into another. In
addition, private initiatives like "TransHelvetia" organise
cooperation projects and exchanges between theatre companies within the German
and French-speaking parts of Switzerland.
Significant to this discussion is
the Language Law, which was approved by both chambers of Parliament in
October 2007.
In this context, the Federal Office
of Cultural Affairs is working together with the Swiss Public Library on a
campaign to abolish illiteracy. The internet site http://www.lesenlireleggere.ch
has been established in this context.
The funding criteria set out by the
Culture & Society Division of the Pro Helvetia Foundation can be viewed as
a practical example for many other institutions. They award funding to projects
which:
- seek to explore current social and cultural phenomena;
- heighten sensitivity to cultural change and diversity;
- foster the transfer of cultural experience and
networking efforts;
- spotlight the cultural practices of a wide range of
companies in Switzerland;
- address communal shaping processes; and
- inspire reflection on the significance of art and
culture in society.
The Culture & Society Division
only awards funding to projects if they: display the characteristics of a
model project and possess the potential to trigger impulses; are of
interregional significance; aim at adequate implementation, oriented towards
the target companies and the on-site situation; are geared toward participation.
For more information, see:
Database of Good Practice on Intercultural Dialogue and our
Intercultural Dialogue section.
Switzerland/ 4.3 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.4 Social cohesion and cultural
policies
The vitality of a multilingual,
four-language country and the great cultural diversity it gives rise to make
social cohesion a central topic of discussion in Switzerland. At the federal
level, the Language Law is to considerably contribute to this social
cohesion (see chapter
4.2.2). Intermediary organisations such as the working consortium
"Parlez-vous Suisse?" also create awareness by promoting cultural
policy in schools, the media, among political authorities and the economy.
Social cohesion is considered to be an irreplaceable instigator as well as the
back bone of cultural diversity and for this reason also an essential element
for any economic and societal coexistence. Repeatedly referred to in this
context is the key role the media plays. In the larger centres, the public
bodies maintain their own departments for socio-culture.
The Department for "Soziokultur"
in the city of Zurich, for example, defines its mission as enabling the
"culture of living together" and offers support in the form of, e.g.,
sports infrastructure, parties, education, consulting services, specific youth
programmes, etc.
Switzerland/ 4.2 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.5 Media pluralism and content
diversity
Switzerland is a multilingual and
multicultural country. The mandate of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG,
SSR, idée suisse) is to produce and disseminate radio and television programmes
in the country's four languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. For this
reason, radio and television studios are located in the different linguistic
regions (see chapter
5.3.2) and extra funds are made available to enable the French and Italian
language regions to produce as many programmes in their respective languages as
is made possible in the German-speaking region of Switzerland. The dual-channel
sound system enables the bulk of broadcasted programming to also be viewed in
English. In the larger areas, English is actually regarded as the first foreign
language.
The new Radio and Television Law
came into force on April 1, 2007. Its provisions for implementation are to
ensure continued strong public service through the Public Service for Radio and
Television (SRG). At the same time, various rules and regulations for private
programme providers are to be eased. Support for local-regional private
providers is also to be expanded using service charge funds.
Thus, the Swiss broadcasting
landscape is opening itself to private broadcasters while public broadcasting
(SRG, SSR, idée Suisse) continues to maintain a strong position, primarily for
political and cultural reasons.
In October 2007, Switzerland
rejected the reinstatement of the media agreement with the EU and thus the
corresponding revision to the Radio and Television Law. It rejects, in
particular, the new EU provisions on advertising which enable the advertisement
of alcohol, politics and religion. Renegotiations are planned.
In accordance with the present
revision of the Radio and Television Law, A proposed new law is actually
currently under discussion in Parliament, but will not be in force before 2007
due to still unresolved critical elements, among them the public financing of
private TV stations and commercials produced for political purposes.
The diversity of the Swiss press
reflects the federalist and multilingual structures of Switzerland. However,
trends toward press concentration have affected Switzerland in the past few
years (According to the Federal Office of Statistics, in 2006 there were 84
daily newspapers; in 2000 there were 93; and in 1985 there were 111). The
concentration of the press has been quantitatively mitigated by the rise of
gratis newspapers. Their number jumped from 3 in 2000 to 9 in 2006.
For this reason, the discussion on
whether there is a need for public support for press diversity or whether this
would distort the mechanism of the press-market is on the political agenda.
Switzerland/ 4.2 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.6 Culture industries: policies
and programmes
Until 2003, there was little
comprehensive information or data available about the culture industries in
Switzerland. The empirical findings of several studies by the University of Art
and Design Zurich show that the arts and cultural industries include about
33 500 enterprises that are liable to taxation. Their share in the overall
economy amounts to almost 3% and they produce a taxable turnover of CHF 32
billion. The culture industries offer almost 118 000 job opportunities and
a value added of CHF 12.5 billion. (http://www.kulturwirtschaft.ch).
A detailed survey on the Canton of
Zurich shows that the city of Zurich makes up at least 50% of Canton Zurich's
total values, while Canton Zurich amounts for approximately one fourth of the
total values for Switzerland's aggregate.
Switzerland/ 4.2 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.7 Employment policies for the
cultural sector
The studies of the University of Art
and Design conclude that the field of cultural industries must be taken into
consideration in the development of a future-oriented cultural policy. Still,
strategies to stimulate employment in the cultural sector are only at an early
stage in Switzerland. The present discussion on cultural policy stipulates for
the first time the evident dependency between public support for culture and
cultural industries. Observable are initial steps being made towards
stabilizing market structures (e.g., the book market, small CD-labels - in both
cases with the circumspect support of Pro Helvetia) in order to provide artists
with indirect support. The Canton of Zurich is actually elaborating strategies
to integrate aspects of the culture industries into the general economic
strategy.
Cooperation between the Swiss
universities of art and design and industry has begun via a network called the
"Swiss Design Network". One of the focuses of the discussion is the
design market, and how new tendencies could be reflected in the university
programmes in order to give better employment perspectives to students.
Switzerland/ 4.2 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.8 New technologies and cultural
policies
In 1998, Switzerland's federal
government presented its national information society strategy. Priorities
outlined for the field of culture are being coordinated by the public project
"sitemapping.ch" and include:
- an emphasis on basic training and education, not only
on pure technical skills but also on those which encourage the production
of new forms of artistic expression;
- digitisation of libraries, archives and museum
collections and making these collections accessible to all via the
Internet; and
- help the population easily discover an artistic
universe which is largely undiscovered and unknown.
Sitemapping's activities are
presently centred on three areas of action: promotion (Artists in Labs and
Mediaproject), mediation (Centre Virtuel) and preservation (AktiveArchive).
Since 2004,
"sitemapping.ch" has offered modest funds (euro 180 000 - in
2006) to finance cultural projects in the new media context.
An example of a public-private
partnership is "Plug.in" (http://www.weallplugin.org), an internationally oriented
media art enterprise active in the organisation of exhibitions and events. It
is trusted by a private foundation and by the Canton of Basel. In cooperation
with other institutions, it develops media art projects and provides networking
and mediation services to media artists.
Switzerland/ 4.2 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.9 Heritage issues and policies
Many different players are involved
in heritage development in Switzerland. Cantonal offices cooperate with federal
ones on almost all the subjects.
The Swiss National Library is
responsible for maintaining texts, images and soundtracks of national
importance. It has a certain number of institutions at its disposal to carry
out this work, partly or entirely financed by the federal government. These
include:
- MIKO
(Koordination der Mikroformen von schweizerischen Zeitungen), which is
responsible for microfilming important sections of Swiss newspapers and
for digitising federal libraries and their collections;
- EAD
(Eidgenössisches Archiv für Denkmalpflege), which maintains documentation
of restored objects, including approximately two million photographs and
negatives as well as plans and reports on the history of architecture,
historical monuments and landscape protection. The acts as the "Swiss
picture archive" and is open to the public;
- Memoriav which
was founded in 1995 as a network of production and archiving institutions.
It promotes the collection, maintenance and distribution of audio-visual
documents. Urgent measures to protect particularly fragile documents are
in development. The network also runs projects to test new technologies
and strategies to maintain and distribute these documents; and
- NIKE (Nationale
Informationsstelle für Kulturgüter-Erhaltung) which was founded in 1988,
and is an association concerned with the maintenance of cultural goods. It
is responsible for the collection, exchange and distribution of
information on the maintenance of cultural goods in accordance with a set
of established rules.
The coordination of these and other
players is to be guaranteed by an overall concept on "Swiss
memo-policy" which was prepared on behalf of the federal government at the
end of 2005. The formulated goals and strategies are to now be further pursued
in a public private partnership.
Part of the overall library policy
is to preserve ancient books by using the world's top technology to neutralise
paper acidity.
The Section for the Protection
and Care of Historical Monuments and Heritage of the Federal Office of
Cultural Affairs (BAK) is responsible for the restoration and conservation of
historical monuments, as well as for taking measures to protect the environment
/ landscape.
Switzerland/ 4.2 Recent policy
issues and debates
4.2.10 Gender equality and cultural
policies
A Law for Equality between Women
and Men came into force in 1996. In 2002, the federal government decided to
realise a Swiss action-plan which reflects the decisions put forward by the
fourth UN World Conference on Women held in 1995. The aim of the action plan is
to encourage equal access to power and decision-making positions on every
level, to turn professional equality into reality, to elaborate a prevention
and intervention programme on violence against women and to guarantee equality
of opportunities in the education of boys and girls. Furthermore, the action
plan calls for the collection, analysis and distribution of gender statistics
and qualitative studies as well as the promotion of a non-stereotyped image of
women and men in the media.
Women are actually under-represented
in the higher education and R&D sectors. Some political measures and grants
have been introduced to bring more women into these fields. Specific programmes
for the cultural sector are not included in the action-plan.
Switzerland/ 4. Current issues in
cultural policy development and debate
4.3 Other relevant issues and
debates
The revised Foundation Law came
into force on January 1, 2006. As a means to raising foundation propensity, the
revised Law on Foundations provides tax incentives. In addition,
adapting foundation purposes to new needs is to be made easier for donors. The
implementation of an obligatory auditory office will also heighten
transparency.
Important players like Swissfoundations
(association of the grant-giving foundations in Switzerland) see fundamental
principles of the foundation entity challenged by the revised Foundation Law;
in particular, the implementation of an obligatory auditory office.
The Lottery Law is still
under revision. The present situation, in which only the two large lottery
companies (SwissLos and Loterie Romande) have exclusive authorisation to run
lottery games granted by cantonal authorities, is being increasingly criticised
by those who plead for the liberalisation of the market. Within the context of
the current revision of the Federal Act of Lotteries and Professional
Betting, this is one of the most criticised points by the cultural
(umbrella) associations. They believe that the establishment of private lottery
associations would decrease the amount of funds dedicated by lotteries to the
area of arts and culture.
There will be increased focus on the
areas of dance and photography in the coming years. A national centre of
competency for photography has already been established (Fotostiftung Schweiz
und Fotomusem Winterthur) and will be financed through public money and by
funds of a private foundation.
Private and public institutions are
working on an integrated promotion concept for dance which is to contain, among
other things, training and further training, recognition of diplomas,
documentation or social security. The project "Tanz", headed by the
Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK), was completed in 2006. The first
results of its efforts can be seen in the development of the "Réseau
Danse" Centre of Excellence, the introduction of post graduate courses of
study in dance culture and dance education as well as a master's course of
study in dance theory.
Within the framework of the
transformation of the Swiss National Library into a public legal foundation, a
higher strategic objective for the federal museum policy is to be devised.
For additional issues see also chapter
1.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.1 Constitution
Note: As a country with a strong
federalist character, Switzerland essentially has less legal basis in its
cultural domain than may be the case in differently organised countries.
Article 69, along with other articles of the Swiss Federal
Constitution, lends a picture of the federal government's role in culture
promotion. For instance, the purpose of Article 2, Section 2, holds
the Swiss Confederation responsible for, among other things, promoting the
"cultural diversity of the country". Article 4 puts in
writing the four national languages. Article 18 safeguards freedom
of language. Article 21 guarantees freedom of art. Article 35
necessitates the pursuance of fundamental rights. And not to be overlooked is
the ban on discrimination in view of cultural diversity (Article 8,
Section 2) and the cultural aspects of political participation (Articles 34
and 39). Under the social goals laid out in Article 41,
Section 1, Cl. g, is of particular mention, in which the federal
government and the cantons commit themselves to insuring "that children
and young people are supported in their development into independent and
socially responsible persons as well as in their social, cultural and political
integration". Areas of competency in the field of culture are regulated by
Article 66 and Article 67 (education, extracurricular
work in young people, adult education), Article 70 (languages), Article 71
(film), Article 78 (nature and cultural heritage) and Article 93,
Section 2 (programming directive for the electronic media). These
culturally-relevant enactments call the Swiss Confederation to take into
account cultural contents not only in the development of federal cultural
promotion, but also in the regulation of other policy areas (cultural
compatibility).
The individual wording of the
articles of the Constitution are as follows:
Article 2 Purpose [...]
(2) It (The Swiss Confederation)
shall promote the common welfare, the sustainable development, the inner
cohesion, and the cultural diversity of the country. [...]
Article 4 National languages
The national languages are German,
French, Italian, and Romansh.
Article 8 Equality before the law [...]
(2) Nobody shall suffer
discrimination, particularly on grounds of origin, race, sex, age, language,
social position, lifestyle, religious, philosophical or political convictions,
or because of a corporal or mental disability. [...]
Article 18 Freedom of language
The freedom of language is
guaranteed.
Article 21 Freedom of art
The freedom of art is guaranteed.
Article 66 Support of education
(1) The Confederation may grant
subsidies to the Cantons for the expenses that they may incur for scholarships
and for other assistance towards education.
(2) It may, moreover, complement
cantonal measures while respecting cantonal autonomy in school matters, and
take its own measures to encourage education.
Article 67 Education of young people and adults
(1) The Confederation and the
Cantons shall, when fulfilling their tasks, take into account children's and
young people's special needs for development and protection.
(2) The Confederation may complement
cantonal measures and support the extracurricular work with children and young
people and the education of adults.
Article 69 Culture
(1) The field of culture is a
cantonal matter.
(2) The Confederation may support
cultural activities of national interest, and encourage art and music, in
particular in the field of education.
Article 70 Languages
(1) The official languages of the
Confederation are German, French, and Italian. Romansh shall be an official
language for communicating with persons of the Romansh language.
(2) The Cantons shall designate
their official languages. In order to preserve harmony between linguistic
communities, they shall respect the traditional territorial distribution of
languages, and take into account the indigenous linguistic minorities.
(3) The Confederation and the
Cantons shall encourage understanding and exchange between the linguistic
communities.
(4) The Confederation shall support
the plurilingual Cantons in the fulfilment of their particular tasks.
(5) The Confederation shall support the
measures taken by the Cantons of Grisons and Ticino to maintain and to promote
Romansh and Italian.
Article 71 Film
(1) The Confederation may encourage
Swiss film production and film culture generally.
(2) It may legislate to encourage
the variety and quality of cinematographic works offered.
Article 78 Nature and cultural heritage
(1) The protection of nature and
cultural heritage is a cantonal matter.
(2) In fulfilling its tasks, the
Confederation shall take into account the objectives of the protection of
nature and cultural heritage. It shall protect scenery, localities, historical
sites, and natural and cultural monuments; it shall preserve them untouched if
public interest so requires.
(3) It may support efforts towards
the protection of nature and cultural heritage, and may, by contract or by
expropriation, acquire or secure objects of national importance
(4) It shall legislate on the
protection of animal and plant life, and on the preservation of their natural
environment and multiplicity. It shall protect endangered species from
extinction.
(5) Moors and marshland of special
beauty and national importance shall be protected. No installations may be
built on them, and no alterations of any kind may be made to the land. An
exception is made for installations serving to ensure their protection or
continuation of existing agricultural use.
Article 93 Radio and television
(1) Legislation on radio and
television and other forms of public telecasting of features and information is
a federal matter.
(2) Radio and Television shall
contribute to education and cultural development, to the free formation of
opinion, and to the entertainment of the listeners and viewers. They shall take
into account the particularities of the country and the needs of the Cantons.
They shall present events factually, and reflect diverse opinions fairly and
adequately.
(3) The independence of radio and
television and the autonomy of their programming are guaranteed.
(4) The situation and the role of
other media, in particular the press, shall be taken into account.
(5) It shall be possible to submit
complaints about programmes to an independent authority.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.2 Division of jurisdiction
"Cantons are responsible for
cultural matters"; the first paragraph of Article 69 of the
Swiss Federal Constitution gives the cantons the right to elaborate their own
laws. Between the cantons and cities there is a wide range of legal approaches
to culture reaching from formal articles on culture in the cantonal constitutions
(sometimes with a corresponding law) - to (non binding) guidelines. The Law
of the Canton of Aargau may serve as an example. It determines that 1% of
the tax revenues of the previous year must be spent for cultural goals, or the
Canton of Schaffhausen whose population recently accepted a general Article
on Culture into the Cantonal Constitution - although a corresponding law
has not yet been established. Another example is the Canton of Zug and its
discussion on whether the sum spent on cultural goals should be fixed in the
Constitution.
There are rather few cultural fields
in Switzerland which are under the direct responsibility of the federal
government.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.3 Allocation of public funds
The function of cultural minister
does not exist on a national or even regional / municipal level in Switzerland.
As a rule, culture is one of various subject fields handled by a person voted
in through the general population. Its operational business transactions are
usually then delegated to a top functionary of the administration and / or
commission.
Laws and decrees regulate the areas
of responsibility, but not how they are financed. The standard phrasing is one
which is typical for Switzerland (i.e. you "may" ... but you don't
"have to") and reads: "The Federation / a canton / ... may -
within the scope of the accorded funds - allocate (x %) to, e.g. education,
performance agreements, sponsorships,..."
Actual budgets are passed, in each
case, by Parliament. If at some point funds are allocated to an institution,
detailed usage guidelines - partially at the level of decrees - are on hand.
Another case is funds, legate...
which are to be federally administered. It is often the case here that funds
for certain purposes (e.g. social, cultural) need to be made available.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.4 Social security frameworks
A comprehensive framework for
artists does not exist. This topic has long been of high priority to umbrella
associations and some initial steps have already been taken. Up to now, three
voluntary Vorsorgeeinrichtungen (social welfare institutions) in the
field of film, dramatic art and music have been in existence - all of them
private foundations, some solidarity funds and some run by collecting
societies. With financial support of the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs
(BAK), "Suisseculture Sociale" (a social capital for artists in need,
which acts subsidiarily) and "Suisseculture Contact" (an advice
centre for artists), have been established.
Umbrella associations have been
pressing this issue within the framework of the development of a new federal Law
on Cultural Promotion, which is to be brought before Parliament in January
2008. There is no consensus yet on whether it is to be part of the more general
Law on Cultural Promotion or rather part of a revised Law on Social
Security.
For more information, see our Status
of Artists section.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.5 Tax laws
Special provisions are provided in Article 92
of the Federal Law on the Direct Federal Tax (income tax) including
"tax-at-source" for artists living in a foreign country. Otherwise,
artists are susceptible to the same tax regulations as everyone else (for
independent workers see Article 27ff. and 125, 2 DBG, for employees
see Article 26, 125, 1 and 127, 1 DBG).
Although private support for culture
is quite high in Switzerland compared to other European countries (see chapter
2.2), there are demands to introduce additional incentives to attract even
more private investment in order to relieve public budgets. There are several
laws that need to be amended to achieve this goal, among them the Swiss
Foundation Law (see chapter
4.3), the Fiscal Law, the Lottery Law. Also, the attitude of
the public administration towards private investors will have to change if a
conducive environment for private investment is to be created.
Donations or contributions in the
form of sponsorship are tax deductible. Canton administrations are being
encouraged to pursue a more liberal tax policy towards foundations and private
sponsors. Tax deductions vary considerably among the cantons. On the federal
level, the deduction amounts to 10% of net profits. The cantons are able to
stipulate their own percentage level and conditions for tax exemptions, making
it possible for deductions to amount to 100%, as is the case in the Canton of
Bale.
The Lottery Law is currently
under revision (see chapter
4.3). Lottery funds constitute a major portion of public cultural support.
A definitive judgement is not likely to be reached any time soon.
At present, two large lottery
companies (SwissLos and Loterie Romande) have exclusive authorisation to run
lottery games granted by cantonal authorities. This situation came under
increasing criticism by the promoters of a free market policy. The cultural
(umbrella) associations, however, believe that the establishment of private
lottery associations would decrease the amount of funds dedicated by lotteries
to the area of arts and culture.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.6 Labour laws
Labour relations including
employment contracts are regulated by the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR,
in particular Article 319 ff.) and are monitored by professional
artists associations (see also chapter
5.1.4).
For more information, see our Status
of Artists section.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.7 Copyright provisions
The Law on Author's Rights
protects the works of literature, art, photography and other domains as well as
collections, which have "independently from their value and aim [...] an
individual character". Practising artists, producers of sound, picture and
data carriers and broadcasters are under the protection of author's rights
(URG). Switzerland is a member of the Berne Convention for the Protection of
Literary and Artistic Works (1886), as well as of the Universal Copyright
Convention (1956). The Geneva Convention and the Rome International Convention
have not yet been ratified by Switzerland.
A new law is being elaborated.
Consent has not yet been reached between the umbrella associations
(Suisseculture) and the public institutions on the topic of droit de suite.
The Law on Author's Rights
(URG) also regulates the copying of tapes and videos for private use. The law
allows copies to be made for teaching purposes, and for internal use and
documentation in firms and public administrations. Compensation for authors and
interpreters is derived from ring-tones, music downloads, CDs and DVDs.
Producers and importers of CDs and DVDs have to pay a tax according to rates
set by the Author's Rights Law and ones set by SUISA (music collecting
society). Importers and producers have to submit monthly reports to SUISA on
the number of ring-tones, music downloads, CDs and DVDs sold.
Collecting societies in Switzerland
include: SUISA (music), Pro Litteris (literature and fine arts), Suissimage
(audio-visual works), Société suisse des auteurs (word, music, choreographic,
audio-visual and multimedia works), and Suisseperform (rights of performing
artists, phonogram producers, audio-visual producers and broadcasters).
SUISA charges have shifted starkly
to ring-tones (euro 410 000 for 2006, -22% from the previous year), music
downloads (euro 470 000, +622% from the previous year) and DVDs (euro
390 000, +14% from the previous year). CD revenues have dropped markedly.
Rights to reproduction, following a boom in 2001, have fallen back overall to
where they were in 1997.
A proposed law on a "library
cent" to compensate authors for lending their works through public
libraries was not accepted by Parliament. Instead, a new law was introduced to
collect levies on copies made for private use in public libraries, copies made
in schools, companies and public administrations.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.8 Data protection laws
A Decree based on the Federal Law
on Data Protection touches on culturally / politically relevant issues in
the area of internet piracy. Issues for discussion are being raised by the
collecting societies and ifpi Schweiz (Swiss National Committee of the
International Federation of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms).
The Federal Law on the
International Transfer of Cultural Property and the related duty to
exercise diligence can be regarded, if even, as an exception. The law
pertaining to the transfer of cultural property reflects the implementation of
the corresponding 1970 UNESCO Convention.
Switzerland/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.9 Language laws
Switzerland has four national and
three official languages: German (spoken by 63.7% of the population in 2000),
French (20.4%), Italian (6.5%), Romansh (0.5%) and other languages (9%).
Romansh is also considered an official language for administrative purposes.
After years of preparation, the Language Law was finally approved by
both chambers of Parliament in October 2007 (see chapter
4.2.2).
The public Swiss Broadcasting
Corporation (SRG, SSR, idée suisse) produces six television programmes in all
languages and the federal government pays particular attention to the
integration of the Romansh culture in these programmes. Additional funds are
forwarded to the SRG for French and Italian language broadcasts. The strong
emergence of the dual channel system is also enabling more and more
broadcasting in English.
The film industry has a similar
language commitment to uphold. A distributor can only distribute a title, if he
owns the film rights for the whole country in the original version and the
versions in all national languages.
Switzerland/ 5.2 Legislation on
culture
Note: A variety of laws, decrees and
regulations exist at the cantonal / municipal level which cannot be shown here.
A broad discussion is currently
taking place at the federal level. The federal law regarding cultural promotion
(KFG) is to make the entire system of the federal cultural promotion
controllable. Moreover, it is to regulate those areas and forms of cultural
promotion for which either no special enactment currently exists or is
currently being drafted. It also must be compatible with those special
enactments corresponding to other areas of cultural promotion. These are
enumerated in Article 1, Section 2. Further laws which regulate
cultural concerns as well, but are to remain independent of the KFG, are for instance,
the Federal Law regarding Radio and Television, the Copyright Law,
the Tax Law and the Labour Law.
The law conveys the federal
government's co-operative mode of conduct - particularly with regards to the
cantons, cities and municipalities - and links the system of federal cultural
promotion with the corresponding systems in the cantons, cities and
municipalities.
On the legal base of the revised
constitution, a cultural support law is currently being drafted under the
leadership of the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK). It will be proposed
to the Parliament in January 2008. At the same time the Law on Pro Helvetia
will be revised, aiming towards a better co-ordination of the foundation's
activities, mainly with the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK) in
Switzerland and abroad. Both laws will not be in force before 2010.
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.1 Visual and applied arts
|
Federal Resolution of December 22,
1887 on the Promotion and Enhancement of Swiss Art |
Resolution enables the federal
government to be active in the area of cultural promotion (the purchase of
works of art, national participation in exhibitions abroad, grants, . . .) |
|
Decree of September 29, 1924 about
the Federal Cultivation of Art |
Corresponding decree |
|
Federal Resolution of December 18,
1917 on the Promotion and Enhancement of Applied (Industrial and Commercial)
Arts |
Resolution enables the federal
government to be active in the area of design promotion (financial
assistance, grants, . . .) |
|
Decree of September 18, 1933 about
the Promotion and Enhancement of Applied Art) |
Corresponding decree - intelligent
concept dating from the year 1995, which, among other things, establishes
a link to the design branch (private industry) as well as the international
community. |
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.2 Performing arts and music
According to the new Cultural
Promotion Law, co-ordinating aspects in the area of performing arts and
music are to be regulated on a legal basis at the federal level. This is to be
discussed in Parliament in 2008.
The performing arts and music
branches, however, are to be primarily promoted / supported on the cantonal and
city level.
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.3 Cultural heritage
According to Article 78
of the Swiss Federal Constitution, cultural heritage and properties are
regulated by the Law and Decree about Nature and Heritage Preservation
whose aim is to:
- save and protect the landscape and scenery which
includes historical sites as well as natural and cultural monuments; and
- support teaching, research and training of specialists.
In order to achieve these
objectives, the federal government may protect its own buildings and direct
concessions, authorisations and contributions (see chapter
4.2.2) for the preservation of non-publicly owned sites.
There are two federal advisory
commissions in the field of cultural heritage including, namely the Federal
Commission for Nature and Heritage Preservation and the Federal Commission for
Historic Monuments and Site Preservation. The Federal Office for the
Environment, Forestry and Landscape and the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs
only play a consultative role. Canton offices also collaborate with these
commissions.
Other pieces of federal legislation
in this field include: the Priority List for Nature and Heritage
Preservation, the Decree about the Federal Archives for Nature and
Heritage Preservation and the Law about the Establishment of the Swiss
National Museums.
Switzerland is a member of many
conventions including the European Convention on the Protection of the
Archaeological Heritage, the Convention on the Protection of Historical
Buildings in Europe and the Convention on the Protection of Cultural and
Natural Goods of the World.
|
Federal Law of December 18, 1992
on the Swiss National Library (SLBG) |
Law regulates responsibilities and
organisation of the Swiss National Library (collection, accessibility,
maintenance and distribution of Helvetica; collection of data relevant to Switzerland;
development of a national and international librarianship). |
|
Decree of September 14, 1983 about
the Federal Archives for Historic Monuments and Site Preservation) |
Corresponding decree |
|
Priority List of June 29, 1994 for
Historic Monuments and Site Preservation) |
Prioritisation of areas of
responsibility due to dwindling financial resources and with the aim of an
improved coordination of players. |
|
Federal Law of July 1, 1966 on
Nature and Heritage Preservation (NHG) Nature Conservation and Homeland
Protection |
Law specifies the areas of
responsibility (preserve, protect as well as promote the conservation and
maintenance of native scenery and localities of interest, historical sites as
well as natural and cultural monuments; support cantons and relevant
organisations; promote teaching and research). |
|
Decree of January 16, 1991 about
Nature and Heritage Preservation (NHV) |
Corresponding decree |
|
Federal Law of June 20, 2003 on
the International Transfer of Cultural Property (KGTG) |
Law regulates - among other
things, in accordance with the UNESCO Convention of November 14, 1970 - the
import of cultural property into Switzerland, its transit and export as well
as its repatriation. |
|
Decree of April 13, 2005 about the
International Transfer of Cultural Property (KGTV) |
Corresponding decree |
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.4 Literature and libraries
|
Federal Law of October 6, 1995 on
Financial Support to the Preservation and Promotion of the Romansh and
Italian Languages and Culture |
Law regulates the granting of
financial support by the federal government to the Canton of Grisons for the
preservation and promotion of the Romansh and Italian languages and culture,
as well as to the Canton of Ticino for the promotion of the Italian language
and culture. |
|
Decree of June 26, 1996 on
Financial Support to the Preservation and Promotion of the Romansh and
Italian Languages and Culture |
Corresponding decrees |
|
Federal Law of December 18, 1992
on the Swiss National Library (SLBG) |
Law regulates responsibilities and
organisation of the Swiss National Library (collection, accessibility,
maintenance and distribution of Helvetica); collection of data relevant to
Switzerland; development of a national and international librarianship) |
|
Decree of January 14, 1998 about
the Swiss National Library (SLBV) |
Corresponding decree |
|
Federal Law of December 19, 2003
on the Orientation of Financial Support towards the Bibliomedia Foundation) |
The federal government may grant
annual support, within the scope of the appropriated credit, to the
Bibliomedia Foundation (public foundation committed to the development of
libraries and the promotion of reading) |
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.5 Architecture and environment
|
Federal Law of July 1, 1966 on
Nature and Heritage Preservation (NHG) |
Law specifies the areas of
responsibility (preserve, protect as well as promote the conservation and
maintenance of native scenery and localities of interest, historical sites as
well as natural and cultural monuments; support cantons and relevant organisations;
promote teaching and research) |
|
Decree of January 16, 1991 about
Nature and Heritage Preservation (NHV) |
Corresponding decree |
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.6 Film, video and photography
The new Film Law and a new Film
Decree have been in force since 2002. The Film Decree was elaborated
by the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK) together with the Federal Film
Commission and the Swiss film industry. The new Decree on Film Promotion
(Film Promotion Decree) has been in force since the start of 2006. It
stipulates film promotion strategies for the period of 2006 - 2010. The new
concepts place particular emphasis on the demand for the increased quality and
popularity of Swiss films.
Priorities are to obtain higher financial
support for co-productions and establish new film statistics. In 1997,
"succèss cinéma", a reward system for film production, was
provisionally introduced to provide additional funds to those producers (their
team, production house, distributors and the cinema) whose films attracted the
greatest number of viewers. This support scheme will definitely continue. For
2007, a minimum admission requirement for profit-based film promotion was
additionally introduced (10 000 for feature films and 5 000 for documentary
films).
A major role is played by the
Federal Film Commission whose function in the coming years will be to oversee
the realisation of the new law, the development of the entire film production
industry, give expert advice regarding federal regulations and promote
cooperation among the cantons in this culture field.
Nearly all Swiss films are
co-produced with other European countries. For this reason, Switzerland plays
an active role in the Euroimages fund created by the Council of Europe.
Furthermore, Switzerland, as a non EU-member, has joined the EU MEDIA-programme
in 2006, (see chapter
2.4). To facilitate co-productions, Switzerland has signed agreements with
eighteen countries. For countries with no agreement, the Agreement on the
Common Production of Film is applied.
The federal government can support
"home made" as well as foreign-Swiss productions and film culture
through contributions, quality awards and prizes (see chapter
8.1.3). It also supports film festivals and provides resources for
education and further training in this field.
|
Federal Law of December 14, 2001
on Film Production and Film Culture (FiG) |
Law promotes the variety and
quality of film offerings and film production, and strengthens the film
culture. |
|
Film Decree of July 3, 2002 (FiV) |
Decree regulates the evaluation of
the legally required variety of publicly-run film offerings in the individual
film regions of Switzerland; the implementation of a patron tax; the
registration of rental agencies and cinemas as well as the notification of
film content being screened; the composition of the Federal Film Commission. |
|
Decree of the Federal Department
of Home Affairs (EDI) of December 20, 2002 about Film Promotion (FiFV) |
Decree regulates the prerequisites
and the procedures necessary for the granting of financial support of the
selective and profit-based film promotion. |
|
Decree of the Federal Department
of Home Affairs (EDI) of September 30, 2004 about the Swiss Film Prize) |
Decree regulates the annual
invitation to the Swiss Film Prize, the admissions requirements, nomination
procedures as well as the procedures for selecting winners. |
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.7 Culture industries
The cultural industries are
considered part of the private business sector and, for this reason, there are
few specific legal frameworks, with the exception of film (see chapter
5.3.6) and books:
The Book trade in Switzerland
was based on a fixed price policy until May 2007. An agreement between
publishers, distributors and bookstores guaranteed that the consumer pays the
retail price which has been fixed by the publisher. Great controversy arose in
reaction to the decision of the Competition Commission (Wettbewerbskommission)
to lift fixed prices on books and the subsequent endorsement from the federal
court. The commission authorities came to the conclusion that there is no
causation between fixed prices on books, on the one hand, and the variety of
titles, broad range of selection and the high density of booksellers, on the
other. The Federal Council is convinced that cultural policy goals can be
obtained by means of government-supported books and publishers.
Film Promotion: Profit-based film
promotion (see chapter
5.3.6) is based on box-office returns and therefore closely tied to the
film economy. This sub-market - together with the design branch - account for
some of the most innovative concepts in film promotion.
|
Decree of September 18, 1933 about
the Promotion and Enhancement of Applied Arts |
Corresponding decree - intelligent
concept from the year 1995, which, among other things, establishes a link
to the design branch (private industry); as well as the international
community. |
|
Decree of the Federal Office of
Home Affairs (EDI) of December 20, 2002 about Film Promotion (FiFV) |
Decree regulates the prerequisites
and the procedures necessary for the granting of financial support of the
selective and profit-based film promotion. |
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.8 Mass media
Switzerland is multilingual and
multicultural. The mandate of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG, SSR,
idée suisse) is to produce and disseminate radio and television programmes in
the country's four languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. For this
reason, the radio and television studios are located in the different
linguistic regions and extra funds are made available to enable the French and
Italian language regions to produce as many programmes in their respective
languages as is made possible in the German-speaking region of Switzerland.
In accordance with the present
revision of the Radio and Television Law, the Swiss broadcasting
landscape is opening itself to private broadcasters while public broadcasting
(SRG, SSR, idée Suisse) continues to maintain a strong position, primarily for
political and cultural reasons. The new Law came into force in 2007 (see also chapter
4.2.5).
The institutionalisation and
organisation of radio and television is based on Article 93
of the Swiss Federal Constitution, the Federal Law and Decree on Radio and
Television (RTVG / RTVV) and on many (non-binding) guidelines stipulated by
the Federal Office for Communication (BAKOM). Article 93 specifies
that information, education, and entertainment are the main functions of the
Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG, SSR, idée suisse). It guarantees the
independence and autonomy of radio and television as well as consideration for
Switzerland's cultural communities (see chapter
4.2.7). Radio and television should take into account original Swiss
audio-visual and film productions as well as co-productions with other European
countries. SRG / SSR / idée suisse has a legal right to obtain a license and to
collect license fees.
Switzerland is a member of the
European Broadcasting Union, whose seat is located in Geneva.
The diversity of the Swiss press
reflects the federalist and multilingual structures of Switzerland. However,
trends towards press concentration have affected Switzerland in the past few
years (according to the Federal Office of Statistics; in 2006 there were 84 daily
newspapers, in 2000 there were 93; and in 1985 there were 111). For this
reason, discussion on whether there is a need for a public support for press
diversity or whether this would distort the mechanism of the press-market has
been on the political agenda. Although direct support for press diversity has
been rejected in Parliament, indirect support (e.g. reduced shipping costs) is
to be expanded.
|
Federal Law of June 21, 1991 on
Radio and Television (RTVG) |
Law specifies, among other
things., the mandate of public legal television to account for the diversity
of the country and its population, draw in the public's attention as well as
cultivate an understanding for other cultures around the world; promote Swiss
cultural affairs and excite viewers and listeners to participate in cultural
life; facilitate contact to Swiss living abroad and promote an international
awareness of Switzerland and an understanding of its issues; make
consideration for Swiss audiovisual production, in particular film; provide
the various regions of the country with adequate radio and television
programming. |
|
Radio and Television Decree of
October 6, 1997 (RTVV) |
Corresponding decree |
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.9 Legislation for self-employed
artists
A comprehensive framework for
artists does not exist. This issue has been of high priority for the umbrella
associations for many years and some initial steps have already been taken.
Until now, three voluntary Vorsorgeeinrichtungen (social welfare
institutions) in the field of film, dramatic art and music have been in
existence - all of them private foundations and some solidarity funds, some of
them run by collecting societies. With financial support of the Federal Office
of Cultural Affairs (BAK), "Suisseculture Sociale" (a social capital
for artists in need, which acts subsidiarily) and "Suisseculture
Contact" (an advice centre for artists) have been established.
For more information, see our Status
of Artists section.
Switzerland/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.10 Other areas of relevant
legislation
|
Federal Law of March 24, 2000 on
the Cultivation of the Swiss Global Image |
The federal government is to
promote the dissemination of a general awareness of Switzerland, the creation
of sympathy for Switzerland as well as the presentation of Switzerland's
diversity and appeal. For this purpose, it is to utilize
/ support an organisation residing in the foreign ministry. |
|
Federal Law of October 7, 1994 on
the " A Future for Swiss Itinerant Communities" Foundation |
The federal government is to
provide support to the private legal foundation, "A Future for Swiss
Itinerant Communities", in order to ensure the safety and improved
quality of life, as well as the preservation, of its itinerant population's
cultural identity. |
|
Federal Law of October 6, 1989 on
the Promotion of Extracurricular Work Among Young People (JFG) |
Law regulates the promotion of
extra-curricular work (of national interest) among children by the federal
government. |
|
Decree of December 10, 1990 about
the Promotion of Extracurricular Work Among Young People (JFV) |
Corresponding decree |
Switzerland/ 6. Financing of culture
6.1 Short overview
There are currently no official
statistics on public cultural expenditure. The most current census is from
2002. The Department for Cultural Analysis at Zurich University of the Arts is
presently collecting relevant data. Initial findings will be available by
mid-2008.
Public authorities hand out a good
two billion CHF annually for culture. These expenditures have gone up slightly
since 1990. The municipalities carry the main burden of public cultural
expenditures (2002: 39% of the total), although their share has been declining
since 1990. That of the cantons has remained practically constant while that of
the federal government has taken off since 1996 - in most part as a result of
the absorption of postal shipping costs for newspapers by the federal
government (starting from 1996) as well as its obligations in connection with
the Swiss Expo 02.
The three administration levels set
varying priorities in supporting the various cultural divisions. For instance,
it is the municipalities and cantons which are solely active in the area of
"theatre and concerts", and chiefly active in the areas of
"libraries" and "museums" while the preservation of
historic buildings and monuments is primarily handled by the cantons alone. The
federal government is exceedingly present in the area of mass media and also
supports the Pro Helvetia Foundation (which falls under "remaining
cultural support").
Of the municipal cultural
expenditures, approximately four-fifths are allotted to the cities (82% of net
expenditures in 2002). The five largest cities alone receive two-fifths of all
municipal funds (Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne).
A new census reflecting data of 2000
shows annual cultural expenditures of private enterprises (sponsors or patrons)
to be approximately CHF 320 million.
According to the income and
consumption census (EVE), the average household income in Switzerland rose by
4.1% in the period between 1998 and 2000, from CHF 8 356 to CHF
8 696. In 2000, the Swiss average monthly household consumption amounted
to CHF 7 634 - a 2.9% rise since 1998, when it was at CHF 7 418.
The percentage share for
"entertainment, recreation, culture" amounted to 6.7%.
Table 2:
Household expenditures on culture, in CHF, in %, 2000
|
Average monthly expenditures per
household |
Total |
in
% |
|
Entertainment, recreation and
culture |
512 |
6.71* |
|
Audiovisual, photo and EDP
equipment |
80 |
1.05
|
|
Additional furnishings and items
for entertainment purposes |
112 |
1.46
|
|
Facilities for sports and
recreation |
161 |
2.11
|
|
Books, press material and
stationary |
84 |
1.10
|
|
Vacation |
75 |
0.99
|
Source:
Income and Consumption Census (EVE), Household Income and Expenditures in 2000:
Detailed Analysis, Swiss Federal Statistical Office, 2003.
Note: The national index of
consumer prices (LIK) measures the price history of those goods and services
relevant to private households. It indicates to what extent consumers must
increase or lower expenditures due to price changes, in order to maintain a
uniform volume of consumption. The LIK measures the price history by means of
the hypothetical grocery basket, which contains the most significant goods and
services consumed by private households. The grocery basket is classified and
weighted according to the 12 most important household expenditure categories.
The category "leisure and culture" has a percentage share of 9.3%.
Switzerland/ 6. Financing of culture
6.2 Public cultural expenditure per
capita
Public culture expenditure per
capita in 2002 was CHF 310. It corresponded to 0.53 % of the GDP.
The percentage share has increased
rapidly since 1996 - essentially a result of the absorption of postal shipping
costs for newspapers by the federal government (starting from 1996) as well as
its obligations in connection with the Swiss Expo 2002.
Switzerland/ 6. Financing of culture
6.3 Public cultural expenditure
broken down by level of government
Table 3:
Public cultural expenditure: by level of government, in million CHF, 2002
|
Level of government |
Total
expenditure |
%
share of total |
|
State (federal) |
575 |
25.3 |
|
Regional (Cantons) |
823 |
36.2 |
|
Local (municipal) |
873 |
38.5 |
|
Total |
2 271 |
100.0 |
Source:
Federal Office for Statistics; Federal Finance Administration.
Switzerland/ 6. Financing of culture
6.4 Sector breakdown
Cultural statistics in Switzerland
do not fit into the Eurostat grid. The categories are as follows: libraries,
museums, theatre and concerts, monuments and sites, media, other support.
According to the statistics, cities concentrate their expenditures mainly in
the areas of theatre, concerts (including opera) and museums. Major
expenditures of the cantons are directed toward the preservation of nature and
Swiss scenery. These fields are not directly supported by the federal
government.
Table 4:
State cultural expenditure: by sector, by level of government, in '000 CHF,
1990, 1995 and 2000-2002
|
|
Libraries |
Museums |
Theatre,
|
Cultural
|
Media |
Other |
Total |
%
of total |
|
Local |
||||||||
|
1990 |
97 712 |
106 361 |
319 665 |
49 502 |
18 552 |
221 900 |
813 692 |
52 |
|
1995 |
107 745 |
120 076 |
246 472 |
36 907 |
16 956 |
252 961 |
781 117 |
46 |
|
2000 |
120 987 |
125 891 |
266 762 |
33 392 |
28 061 |
271 832 |
846 925 |
41 |
|
2001 |
135 283 |
136 711 |
252 900 |
32 144 |
27 188 |
257 041 |
841 267 |
36 |
|
2002 |
135 760 |
151 895 |
255 095 |
32 429 |
26 912 |
271 307 |
873 397 |
38 |
|
Provincial (cantons) |
||||||||
|
1990 |
86 489 |
100 193 |
183 643 |
127 989 |
3 798 |
69 542 |
571 654 |
37 |
|
1995 |
87 944 |
121 291 |
250 591 |
124 157 |
4 424 |
85 049 |
673 456 |
40 |
|
2000 |
66 776 |
131 450 |
216 472 |
139 919 |
5 903 |
201 928 |
762 448 |
37 |
|
2001 |
69 542 |
147 773 |
255 211 |
152 291 |
8 845 |
170 082 |
803 744 |
35 |
|
2002 |
78 363 |
148 598 |
246 818 |
156 053 |
9 168 |
183 987 |
822 987 |
36 |
|
Federal |
||||||||
|
1990 |
12 120 |
21 584 |
- |
56 912 |
11 700 |
66 516 |
168 832 |
11 |
|
1995 |
21 288 |
38 690 |
- |
52 733 |
45 919 |
68 731 |
227 361 |
14 |
|
2000 |
20 698 |
36 564 |
- |
39 982 |
154 019 |
221 589 |
472 852 |
23 |
|
2001 2) |
7 711 |
15 515 |
- |
49 554 |
160 883 |
447 332 |
680 995 |
29 |
|
2002 2) |
5 974 |
15 266 |
- |
46 080 |
166 749 |
340 888 |
574 957 |
25 |
|
Total |
||||||||
|
1990 |
196 321 |
228 138 |
503 308 |
234 403 |
34 050 |
357 958 |
1 554 178 |
|
|
1995 |
216 977 |
280 057 |
497 063 |
213 797 |
67 299 |
406 741 |
1 681 934 |
|
|
2000 |
208 461 |
293 905 |
483 234 |
213 293 |
187 983 |
695 349 |
2 082 225 |
|
|
2001 |
212 536 |
299 999 |
508 111 |
233 989 |
196 916 |
874 455 |
2 326 006 |
|
|
2002 |
220 097 |
315 758 |
501 914 |
234 561 |
202 830 |
796 181 |
2 271 341 |
|
Source:
Federal Office for Statistics; Federal Finance Administration; own
calculations.
1)
Gross expenditures following the deduction of double-counting.
2)
As a result of the revised payment model in 2001 and 2002, the majority of
personnel and non-personnel expenditures are included under the heading
"Other".
Switzerland/ 7. Cultural
institutions and new partnerships
7.1 Re-allocation of public
responsibilities
Since its beginning, Switzerland has
had a very strong tradition of federalism and subsidiarity. The recent
discussion in Europe on civil society, the third sector and the corresponding
transfer of public responsibilities towards private institutions therefore has
not affected the cultural landscape in any strong way. Decentralisation, the
re-allocation of public responsibilities and public-private-partnerships are
thus well embodied. Of current significance is the project to reorganise the
whole system of burden sharing between the federal level and the cantons with
the aim of reducing the complexity of these mechanisms. For these reasons, the
federal administration and the cantons are developing new approaches - a
development which may affect the cultural landscape.
Re-allocation of public
responsibilities can be observed within the public sector. For example,
following a local referendum, responsibility for the Opera House of Zurich was
transferred from the City to the Canton of Zurich. Voluntary agreements were
made with neighbouring cantons to provide resources for the upkeep of the Opera
House. The transfer of financial support can be in the form of a percentage of
the fiscal income of the previous year or as a lump sum. These agreements were
mostly made without legal basis or precedence.
Large parts of the Swiss cultural
landscape are marked by cooperation between public and private players.
Re-allocation can mainly be observed between the public context and the
intermediary sector. The latest examples are the project to transform the
National Museum into a public foundation or the setting-up of a National Centre
of Competency for Photography by a private patron and the Federal Office of
Cultural Affairs (BAK). A more recent example is the PPP (public private
partnership) formed in 2005 within the framework of the "Swiss Memo
Policy" (see chapter
4.2.9).
Switzerland/ 7. Cultural
institutions and new partnerships
7.2 Status/role and development of
major cultural institutions
There are only a few national
cultural institutions in Switzerland. Examples are the Swiss National Library
(located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland), the Swiss Literary
Archive (founded in 1990, located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland)
and the Swiss National Sound Archives (founded in 1987, located in the
Italian-speaking part of Switzerland). The Swiss Literary Archive and the National
Sound Archives thus accomplish - in close cooperation with the Swiss National
Library - one of the tasks set out in the Law on the National Library.
Those archives have the task of collecting, cataloguing and making available to
the public contents that are connected in one way or another with Switzerland's
history and culture.
The Swiss National Museum has its
main building in Zurich and has several additional locations in the different
language regions of Switzerland. It is to be transformed into an autonomous
foundation. The corresponding Museum Law was referred to Parliament in
September 2007.
Switzerland has one of the highest
concentrations of museums in the world. Since 1950, the number of
museums in Switzerland has tripled. In 2006, over 15 million visitors to 948
museums were recorded.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, a
new tendency can be observed in the private collections of contemporary art.
Collectors prefer to establish their own museums or collections - often
constructed by internationally renowned architects. Another example of a
private initiative is the anonymous group of patrons called "Ladies
First" who spent CHF 20 million for the construction of a new theatre in
the City of Basel.
The Swiss Film Archive is a
foundation financed by the federal state, the Canton of Vaud and the City of
Lausanne.
In Switzerland, there are about
6 000 libraries. Most of the 30 larger libraries (with more than
250 000 media units) are university libraries and, at the same time,
canton and city libraries.
According to the Federal Office of
Statistics, 547 commercial cinema screens offered 112 000 seats in 2005.
About a third of the cinemas and the seats were concentrated in the five
biggest centres of Switzerland: Zurich, Bern, Bale, Geneva and Lausanne.
About the same regional distribution
can be observed in the 30 larger theatres that have their own ensembles and
which had 1.6 million spectators during 2005/2006, according to the
Schweizerischen Bühnenverband. The Schauspielhaus Zürich, for example, is one
of the leading theatre houses in the German-speaking part of Europe, and the
same can be said for the Téâtre Vidy Lausanne within in the French-speaking
part of Europe.
Interesting discussions are taking
place on burden sharing among large cultural institutions. For more
information, see chapter
7.1.
The role played by city marketing
and cultural tourism strategies is becoming more important for cultural
institutions. Interesting examples are the Cultural and Congress Centre set up
in Lucerne and several (summer) festivals. A further building block planned
over the next five years in Lucerne is a centre for theatre and musical
productions.
Switzerland/ 7. Cultural
institutions and new partnerships
7.3 Emerging partnerships or
collaborations
Cooperation between the public and
private sector plays a significant role and is mostly organised around the
modern concept of "matching grants". In 2002, the percentage share of
private sector expenditure for culture was approximately 16%. There are
currently more then 10 000 foundations with a public interest, out of
which around 1 500 have a cultural aim. Since 2001, a new platform called
"Swiss Foundations" has been representing grant giving foundations in
Switzerland. Its aim is to establish quality standards for foundations and to
promote the role of foundations in different kinds of partnerships.
Several federal players work
together with private partners on various projects (see chapter
7.1). An important private partner cooperating in - or even initiating -
public projects is Migros. According to its corporate by-laws, Migros spends
around 0.5% of its retail turnover and 1% of its wholesale turnover (around CHF
115 million in 2006) on cultural and social activities (http://www.kulturprozent.ch).
For example, a database on support for culture in Switzerland has been put on
the Internet by Migros (http://www.kulturbuero.ch).
The cultural foundation Pro Helvetia
in cooperation with Migros Kulturprozent (a private institution), hand out
awards to publishers. The programme's goal is to strengthen independent
literary publishers in Switzerland. A total of CHF 300 000 was
appropriated for 2003, to be awarded to seven publishing companies from the
French region of Switzerland and Ticino. Support to editors totals CHF 4 million
and come through the cantons, cities and other private sector players. Since
2003, Pro Helvetia has been supporting small CD-labels in the same way with CHF
140 000.
Public-private partnerships can be
observed on all levels. The latest cooperation is "Swiss Films".
Since 2004, Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Film Centre and the Swiss Short Film Agency
have been cooperating in the "Swiss Films"-association to promote
Swiss film abroad. They are to be funded by the federal government, by the
cantons, by the cities, and through sponsoring as well as their own income.
Another intelligent example of a public / private partnership is the Zurich
Film Foundation.
In the past few years, there has
been a move from "patronage" towards "sponsoring", the
latter of which is complemented by other forms of cooperation. There is a trend
among some large companies to develop their corporate identity by organising
their own concerts or theatre tours. Furthermore, in contrast to classical
sponsoring, investors are now commissioning or developing projects together
with cultural institutions or artists. A movement away from traditional or
classical culture towards event-oriented culture can also be observed.
Switzerland/ 8. Support to
creativity and participation
8.1 Direct and indirect support to
artists
In Switzerland there is a large
range of different support schemes. On all levels - federal, cantonal,
municipal - similar approaches can be observed:
- grants or contributions for the training of artists;
- prizes via competitions (see chapter
8.1.2);
- support to artists' studios abroad and in Switzerland;
- official Swiss contributions to international and
national exhibitions (only by the Federal Office for Culture); and
- acquisition of works of art for the National Art
Collection (only by the Federal Office of Cultural Affaires).
Switzerland/ 8.1 Direct and indirect
support to artists
8.1.1 Special artists funds
Established by means of financial
support through the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs, "Suisseculture
Sociale" is a social capital for artists in need which acts subsidiarily.
In a more specific way, large umbrella organisations like Suisa or Pro Litteris
provide such funds to their members. Typical for Switzerland are the numerous
small private funds for artists.
All of this, nevertheless, cannot hide
the fact that a comprehensive social security framework for artists is
nonexistent in Switzerland.
Switzerland/ 8.1 Direct and indirect
support to artists
8.1.2 Grants, awards, scholarships
The City of Zurich could serve as an
example for offering a well diversified programme of grants. During the 2006,
the City of Zurich gave prizes to over 20 artists totalling around euro
230 000, including ten authors, three musical groups, one composer and
eight artists from the visual arts. Eleven of the recipients received honorary
awards (euro 3 600), the composer and two musical groups each received
amounts equivalent to an annual salary of euro 26 000, and the eight
artists from the visual arts received euro 9 000 each. In the field of
literature, two persons received an amount equivalent to an annual salary (euro
26 000) and another two persons received awards amounting to half an
annual salary. Six artists are granted studios - located in Paris, Berlin and
Rome - for an arranged period of time.
Smaller cantons and cities do not
have such a multitude of schemes. They support artists in a more project-based
way; for example, with funds generated from state lotteries. Some cities
jointly own artists' studios abroad.
There are some specific programmes
provided by the federal government to support artists. The two most important
ones are the Federal Competition for Fine Arts and the Federal Competition for
Design. They are annually organised by the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs
for Swiss artists and designers under the age of 40. Each of these competitions
includes 20 to 30 awards, some of which include a cash prize of euro
15 000. Since 2002, the Federal Competition for Design has been being
re-organised. The winner of one of the categories (divided into 2-d and 3-d)
can now choose between prize-money and a traineeship in an international design
company. The award-winning objects are presented in an exhibition which is
alternately organised in the cities of Zurich and Lausanne. Winners of such
awards can expect to take a significant step forward in their careers.
Pro Helvetia commissions work in the
literature and music fields (see chapter
2.2) and provides limited support to cultural institutions. In 2000, e.g.,
it commissioned the translation of works by 35 authors and translators which
amounted to euro 490 000, and commissioned compositions from 40 musicians
amounting to euro 150 000.
Private cultural foundations and
associations commission annual works in different fields and provide studios
abroad for artists (studios are owned by the foundations or associations).
Switzerland/ 8.1 Direct and indirect
support to artists
8.1.3 Support to professional
artists associations or unions
Cultural (umbrella-)organisations
play an essential role in the Swiss cultural landscape. More than 40 such
organisations, which deal with music, literature, theatre, film, dance and
applied arts, are financed by the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs. In 2006,
they received approximately CHF 3.3 million from the federal government. Funds
are distributed to organisations:
- which are considered to be of public interest;
- whose members come from different regions;
- whose activities should take place in at least two
different linguistic regions; and
- which are considered to be "professional" and
provide regular activities.
A certain number of associations,
including the author's rights collecting societies have joined together under
the banner of "Suisseculture". The main tasks of cultural (umbrella-)
organisations are:
- lobbying (in the context of public decision-making
procedures);
- material and immaterial support of artists (many
associations have their own support funds and studios);
- to provide legal and financial advice;
- social help in difficult situations; and
- organisation of cultural events.
Switzerland/ 8.2 Cultural
consumption and participation
8.2.1 Trends and figures
Table 5:
Participation figures for different cultural activities, 1993, 1995, 2000 and
2003
|
|
1993 |
1995 |
2000 |
2003 |
|
Libraries (1) |
0.640 |
0.622 |
- |
0.5 |
|
Museums (2) |
10.6 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Theatres (3) |
1.81 |
1.72 |
1.63 |
1.57 |
|
Cinema (4) |
15.9 |
15.2 |
15.6 |
16.5 |
|
Newspapers(5) |
248 |
257 |
232 |
216 |
|
TV (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
GR |
125 |
128 |
137 |
141 |
|
FR |
144 |
149 |
159 |
168 |
|
IR |
153 |
157 |
171 |
175 |
|
Radio (7) |
|
|
|
|
|
GR |
202 |
199 |
193 |
111 |
|
FR |
134 |
129 |
142 |
105 |
|
IR |
165 |
171 |
148 |
106 |
|
Reading (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
GR |
31 |
33 |
35 |
31 |
|
FR |
26 |
26 |
31 |
29 |
|
IR |
28 |
26 |
34 |
29 |
Abbreviations:
GR: German-speaking regions / FR: French-speaking regions / IR:
Italian-speaking regions
(1)
Number of borrowers, in millions. (Federal Office for Statistics)
(2)
Number of visitors, in millions. (Database for cultural goods and Federal
Office for Statistics)
(3)
Number of spectators, in millions, in the regularly subsidised theatres.
(Federal Office for Statistics)
(4)
Number of spectators, in millions. (Source: Suisa / Procinema)
(5)
Number of titles appearing at least once a week. (Federal Office for
Statistics)
(6)
Daily average in minutes, per inhabitant. (Source: Telecontrol, Radiocontrol;
new method since 1.2001)
(7)
Daily average for working days, in minutes, per inhabitant. (Source:
Telecontrol, Radiocontrol; new method since January 2001)
(8)
Population aged 15 years or older in minutes per day (Source: Telecontrol,
Radiocontrol; new method since 1.2001)
Table 6:
Leisure activities, performed at least on a weekly basis, in % of the
population age 15 and older, 2000
|
|
Total
in % |
M
in % |
W
in % |
Swiss
citizens |
Foreigners |
|
Reading |
88.7 |
85.9 |
91.4 |
82.1 |
90.3 |
|
Doing crafts, handicrafts,
gardening |
50.7 |
46.7 |
54.4 |
36.6 |
54.0 |
|
Playing music, singing |
23.5 |
22.7 |
24.5 |
17.7 |
24.9 |
|
Attending courses (e.g., language,
|
11.7 |
9.8 |
13.5 |
9.3 |
12.2 |
|
Going to the movies |
2.8 |
3.0 |
2.7 |
4.0 |
2.5 |
|
Going to the theatre, opera or an
art exhibition |
2.1 |
1.7 |
2.3 |
1.6 |
2.1 |
Source:
Federal Government for Statistics, parts of the Swiss Household Panel 2000
Switzerland/ 8.2 Cultural
consumption and participation
8.2.2 Policies and programmes
Switzerland has a very rich and
diversified cultural life. In the rural regions, local cultural associations
play an important role, and participation in cultural life is linked to living
traditions (see chapter
8.4). In the cities, an important number of cultural events in a broader
sense (street parades, ethnic festivals, etc.) have taken over this function.
Nevertheless, there are also many initiatives to promote participation in
cultural life in a narrower sense, for example, the "Museum Night"
which offers free admission to all museums in the City of Zurich for the
duration of one night. A Swiss-wide programme is the "museum
passport", which offers admission to 250 museums all over Switzerland.
Switzerland enthusiastically takes part in international programmes such as the
"European Day of Heritage Preservation".
Most of these activities - whether
private or public - are planned and realised on the city or cantonal level. But
there are also programmes to support participation in cultural life by the
federal government. Two examples include:
- the projects funded by the sector "culture &
society". It supports cultural projects that devote themselves to
topical social issues and contribute to the mutual understanding among
regional, linguistic, ethnic or other communities. The Culture &
Society sector supports projects that reflect and transmit cultural
practice and social development; and
- the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs is working
together with the Swiss Public Library on a campaign to abolish
illiteracy. The Swiss Public Library is a foundation mainly financed by
the federal government together with support provided by some cantons. The
aim of the campaign is to lend books and other media to public libraries
and schools under reasonable conditions in order to maintain and develop
the Swiss library system and to promote equal access to literature in
every part of the country, including all groups or cultural communities.
Pro Helvetia regularly launches
theme-based programmes and programmes highlighting other countries for two-year
runs. The theme-based programmes take up important questions pertaining to
Switzerland's cultural identity and reflect Pro Helvetia's awareness of its
policy task to nurture mutual appreciation domestically. The programmes
highlighting other countries contribute in facilitating the artistic-cultural
exchange between Switzerland and other countries or regions of the world. They
are chiefly initiated through the requests of governmental partners or partner
institutions abroad. The country programmes serve Pro Helvetia as a vehicle for
implementing projects that cultivate and maintain cultural interaction with
countries abroad.
For example, with the support of its
satellite office in Cairo, Pro Helvetia is currently overseeing the production
of "Cargo Sofia-Amman / Damascus", a play directed by Swiss director
Stefan Kägi. The production will be staged in Jordan and Syria. The project is
being independently run thanks to a collaboration with the "Young Theatre
Arab Fund". Another of its projects has focused on developing a rich
cultural programme set for commencement in China in 2008 and scheduled to run
up to the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010. Another significant source of
activity in Pro Helvetia comes from the DEZA-designated countries, where
educational and training facilities for such cultural activities as theater,
dance, music or photography are initiated and financed, or permanent
exhibitions, concerts or exchange events take place. 60% of Pro Helvetia's financial
resources flow out of the country.
Switzerland/ 8.3 Arts and cultural
education
8.3.1 Arts education
The cantons are the main bodies
responsible for schools and education in general. Among the responsibilities of
the federal government in the field of education are: the activities of federal
universities (Eidgenössische Hochschulen), the distribution of grants to
cantonal universities, scientific research programmes and Swiss schools abroad.
Only recently has the revised Swiss Federal Constitution begun to allow the
state to promote art and music, especially in the education sector. However,
the legal concretisation of this task will be completed in 2008.
Switzerland is in the process of
setting up universities of applied sciences, which include universities of art
and design. One of the main goals is to integrate them into the Swiss tertiary
education system and to support concentration and thematic priority setting.
On the long-term agenda of the
Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK) are the promotion of professional arts
education, the formal recognition of artistic professions and the re-training
of artists who are no longer able to practise their art or trade. First concrete
measures are being taken in the dance sector.
With the "Internet for
Schools" initiative, Swisscom (public limited company / Switzerland's
leading telecom company) is fulfilling its social responsibility as a major
Swiss company by providing direct, long-term support for Switzerland's
education system. The aim of "Internet for schools", to connect all
Swiss schools to the Internet, was reached in 2006.
Switzerland/ 8.3 Arts and cultural
education
8.3.2 Intercultural education
Educational studies in intercultural
competence are enjoying ever-increasing popularity. Regio Basiliensis, for
instance, is a transnational organisation which offers intercultural
educational training to teachers. Schools are also increasing their offer,
often in combination with language courses. This striking development has
reached as far as Asia, and more specifically, China. This has to do with the
fact that Switzerland is increasingly interested in these regions of the world,
not least for economic reasons.
The Institute for Communication
Research (IFK) in Lucerne has engaged itself with interculturalism since 1988.
Alongside services and research, IFK offers educational courses.
For more information, see our Intercultural Dialogue section.
Switzerland/ 8.4 Amateur arts,
cultural associations and community centres
8.4.1 Amateur arts
Within the federalist landscape of
Switzerland, amateur arts associations and cultural houses play an important
role. More than 10% of the population volunteer in cultural associations; the
number of amateur arts associations is innumerable. An internet database of the
amateur music associations - not claiming completeness - lists almost
1 000 associations (http://www.musikvereine.ch/).
While cultural (umbrella-)
organisations are mainly supported by the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs,
the huge number of amateur arts associations and cultural houses are financed
on a private basis or supported by the cities and communities; often by money
generated by state lottery funds.
Switzerland/ 8.4 Amateur arts,
cultural associations and community centres
8.4.2 Cultural houses and community
cultural clubs
Amateur arts associations play an
important role within the federalist landscape of Switzerland. More than 10% of
the population volunteer in cultural associations. (For statistics, see Table
in chapter
8.2.1). This is certainly due in large part to Switzerland's observation of
the federal principal.
This is reflected in the rich
cultural landscape of centres and activities which are primarily given support
/ financial backing at the municipal level. There are also public-private
partnerships, such as the Dada House which is located in the city of Zurich.
Significant for being the birth place of the Dada movement, it was rescued from
near-death due to a planned building usage change, and has now been turned into
the Cabaret Voltaire, a cultural centre which, among other things, is extending
aspects of the avant-garde into the 21st century.
On the administrative side, related
institutions may be located in the corresponding cultural, youth or social
domains.
Switzerland/ 9. Sources and Links
9.1 Key documents on cultural policy
Confoederatio Helvetica: Swiss
Law Database.
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/44.html
Federal Office for Cultural
Affaires: Annual reports.
http://www.admin.ch/bak
Federal Office of Statistics: Yearbook.
http://www.statistik.admin.ch/service-stat/jahrbuch-online/index.htm
Omlin, Sibylle: Kunst aus
der Schweiz - Kunstschaffen und Kunstsystem im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert. Zürich:
Pro Helvetia, 2002.
Pro Helvetia: Annual
reports.
http://www.pro-helvetia.ch
Risi, Marius: Alltag und
Fest in der Schweiz - Eine kleine Volkskunde des kulturellen Wandels. Zürich:
Pro Helvetia, 2003.
Schindler, Anna; Reichenau,
Christoph: Zahlen bitte! Kulturbericht 1999: Reden wir über eine
schweizerische Kulturpolitik. Bern, 1999.
Weckerle, Christoph; Söndermann,
Michael: 1. Kulturwirtschaftsbericht Schweiz. Zürich: Hochschule
für Gestaltung und Kunst Zürich, 2003.
Weckerle, Christoph; Gerig, Manfred;
Söndermann, Michael: Kreativwirtschaft Schweiz, Daten, Modelle, Szene.
Birkhäuser, 2008.
Switzerland/ 9. Sources and Links
9.2 Key organisations and portals
Cultural policy making bodies
Cantons / Kantone
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/schweiz/kantone/index.html
Conference of the Directors of
Education / Erziehungsdirektorenkonferenz
http://www.edk.ch
Federal Department for Foreign
Affairs / Eidg. Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
http://www.eda.admin.ch
Federal Office of Cultural Affairs /
Bundesamt für Kultur
http://www.admin.ch/bak
Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation / Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit
http://www.deza.ch
Swiss Arts Council / Stiftung Pro
Helvetia
http://www.pro-helvetia.ch
Professional associations
Reproduction Rights Organisation Pro
Litteris
http://www.prolitteris.ch/default1.asp
Schweizerischer Bühnenverband
http://www.theaterschweiz.ch
Suisseculture
http://www.suisseculture.ch
Société suisse des auteurs
http://www.ssa.ch
Suisseperform Suisa
http://www.suisa.ch
Swiss Music Council / Schweizer
Musikrat
http://www.miz.ch
Swiss Writers Union /
Schweizerischer SchriftstellerInnenverband (SSV)
http://www.ch-s.ch/
Visarte (Visual arts association /
Berufsverband visuelle Kunst)
http://www.visarte.ch
http://www.suissimage.ch
Grant-giving bodies
Swissfoundation
http://www.swissfoundations.ch
Pro Helvetia
http://www.pro-helvetia.ch
Cultural research and statistics
Federal Office for Statistics
http://www.statistik.admin.ch
Zurich University of the Arts
http://www.kulturwirtschaft.ch
Database about private and public
cultural promotion
http://www.kulturfoerderung.ch
Culture / arts portals
Federal Register of Foundations /
Eidg. Stiftungsverzeichnis
http://www.edi.admin.ch/esv/stiftungsverzeichnis/index.html
Public portal service of swissinfo
and Pro Helvetia
http://www.culturelinks.ch
Residencial stays, studios for
artists / Künstlerateliers in der Schweiz und im Ausland
http://www.artists-in-residence.ch
The
Council of Europe/ERICarts "Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in
Europe, 9th edition", 2008