International exchange projects Switzerland - Balkans

With the 2008/09 season, Pro Helvetia will support exchange projects between artists from Switzerland and Programmers/Institutions/Organisers from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo. Local organizers can apply for funding for projects involving Swiss participants in projects from all the different art disciplines. The ultimate goal is to create a network of various art and cultural scenes in the region with artists and cultural workers from Switzerland.

Conditions

General:
To qualify for support, a project must contribute to exchange of experience either through a common performance, a workshop, a symposium or another form of cooperation involving Swiss artists and the local art field actors. The project should be part of the regular programme of the organiser. Applications are to be submitted by the local partner hosting the project. The projects should if possible be presented or performed at least three times - ideally in more than one country. In such a case, the organisers involved should submit a joint application. Projects are to begin at the earliest in the autumn of 2008. All costs arising locally must be covered locally.

Visual arts
Exhibitions of works by Swiss artists and staged by recognised art institutions. Presentations in private galleries will only be considered if the gallery regularly exhibits Swiss art.

Music, theatre, dance
Coproductions and Performances of Swiss artists with local artists. Guest Performances and concerts by Swiss groups of national renown at recognised venues and festivals. Music projects must also include contemporary music from Switzerland.

"Literature and society" (Dialogues)
Literary events and events relating to the human and social sciences that serve to promote Swiss literature, as well as events and projects from the fields of cultural promotion, cross-cultural dialogue, everyday culture and folk culture that emphasise cultural practice as one of the driving forces of social development.

Evaluation criteria
The artistic quality, originality of the concept, professionalism and sustainability of the project will be evaluated.

Procedure
All applications (maximum sum to be applied for: CHF 50,000) will be evaluated and ruled on by the Pro Helvetia Secretariat. Contact person for all applicants and responsible for coordination is Darja Butigan (Pro Helvetia Belgrade, SCP Serbia).
Pro Helvetia's contribution
Pro Helvetia covers at most the travel and transport expenses and fees of the Swiss artists involved.
Composition of dossier to be submitted

• Written project description, incl. Swiss-Balkan exchange element
• Information on organiser(s) (incl. website) and their partners
• Budget and finance plan

Deadline
Applications for projects scheduled to take place between September 2008 and June 2009 must have reached the contact office in Belgrade by 1 May 2008 at the latest. The projects to be supported will be selected by the end of June and the successful project organisers informed without delay.

Address:
Darja Butigan
Pro Helvetia Belgrade
Simina 21, ground-floor
11000 Belgrade
Serbia
dbutigan@phbelgrade.org