Pro Helvetia
We support artists and cultural practitioners from Switzerland and disseminate their projects in Switzerland and abroad. We are committed to international cultural exchange and initiate cultural and thematic programmes.
https://prohelvetia.ch/en/
Ikea Foundation Switzerland Grant
In the fields of architecture, interior design, design (furniture and lighting, products, textiles, scenography) and arts and crafts (ceramics, jewelry, pottery, glassware, textiles), the Ikea Foundation promotes the practical examination of forward-looking projects. Work and project contributions (e.g. prototype development or trade fair presentation) as well as scholarships for further training abroad are awarded.
Requirements: BA degree (or equivalent), professional experience
https://ikea-stiftung.ch/en/foundation/
Migros Commitment
Migros Commitment supports cultural and social initiatives in Switzerland with grants. There are various national funding programs for cultural ventures, including in the fields of visual arts, film, comics, digital culture and for interdisciplinary projects. Applications can be submitted for various funding schemes, e.g. for supporting ideation (financial support for the development of artistic ideas), supporting diffusion (financial support for the dissemination of cultural works) or junior development programme Sparx for young artists between the ages of 18 and 28. The focus here is on the independent further development of a project idea and the expansion of a professional network.
Promoting cultural talent Albert Köchlin Foundation
TaKu is an initiative of the Albert Koechlin Foundation. The project supports artists or groups of artists from Central Switzerland (Uri, Schwyz, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Lucerne) who are at the beginning of their artistic careers. TaKu consists of four areas: Grants, mentoring, workshops and networking.
https://www.taku-aks.com/
Cultural promotion by the cantons of Central Switzerland
The cantons of Central Switzerland provide targeted support for creative artists and designers. The requirements and support services vary from canton to canton.
• Kanton Luzern
• Kanton Nidwalden
• Kanton Obwalden
• Kanton Schwyz
• Kanton Zug
• Kanton Uri
IG Kultur Luzern
The association mediates and networks between cultural professionals, politics, administration, business and the public. Among other things, the website provides a broad overview of public and private cultural funding bodies in Central Switzerland. The guideline “Leitfaden für Kulturgesuche” (only available in German) is also highly recommended. It provides a step-by-step guide to successful applications to public funding bodies and foundations, offers checklists and reveals tips and tricks on how to optimize an application. Download at https://www.kulturluzern.ch/leitfaden-fur-kulturgesuche
Bolo Klub
The Bolo Klub is a long-term project that supports an emerging generation of picture-book artists in Switzerland. The path is long and sometimes difficult between the first ideas at the origin of a project and its concretisation in a publication. This is why the Bolo Klub proposes several activities by organising exchanges between peers, meetings with more experienced authors and illustrators as well networking with publishers. In short, the Bolo Club enables the development of a committed and self-supporting community for the making of high-quality picture books.
Requirements: Application with a letter of motivation for your own book idea, mini-storyboard, sketches and picture examples as well as a CV. The call for applications is issued every 2 years.
https://boloklub.ch/
Swiss Design Network (SDN)
The SDN supports the dissemination and publication of research results and other work by young researchers and doctoral students at Swiss art and design universities. Two Project Grants and one Publishing Grant of CHF 2,000 are awarded annually.
Requirements: Employment at a Swiss art and design university
Project with far-reaching and/or sustainable potential and a public dimension
https://swissdesignnetwork.ch/en/grants/
Homo Faber Fellowship
Homo Faber Fellowship is a 7-month sponsored professional integration programme designed for duos of master artisans and emerging talents. Participants will develop business and marketing knowledge, as well as design and hands-on practical skills through transmission from one generation to the next. The programme takes place from September to March every year in partnership with local members of the Foundation’s network.
Requirements: recently completed university degree; willingness to travel and work with a local master craftsman and gain initial work experience.
https://nextgen.homofaber.com/fellowship
Business ideas that are geared towards sustainability, socio-cultural transformation or a positive impact on the economy and society and require further development work before they are ready for the market can be submitted to Bridge or First Venture for funding.
The application process is demanding and must be planned well in advance (approx. 2 months). This is offset by attractive funding and a temporary position at the Department Design Film Art.
Bridge, the funding program of the Swiss National Science Foundation and Innosuisse, is announced four times a year and supports young researchers in the Proof of Concept category for 12 months with a sum of up to CHF 130,000. The bachelor's or master's thesis or doctorate must have been completed less than 4 years ago.
With First Ventures, Gebert Rüf Stiftung supports Bachelor's and Master's students from Swiss universities of applied sciences who develop an innovative business idea from their studies towards the market. Projects can be submitted up to a maximum of 6 months after graduation. There are 4 submission deadlines and 3 funding categories:
Proof: Checking the feasibility of the project idea, up to CHF 25,000
Validate: Validation of the business case, up to CHF 50,000
Execute: Implementation of the product or service on the market, up to CHF 150,000.
You can find more start-up funding programs on the Smart-up Main Page.
