Artist Funding in Switzerland

artlink’s "Here We Are" program supports artists who have recently immigrated to Switzerland, offering participatory research, tailored initiatives, services and targeted funding opportunities to help them establish an art career in the country. Support can include small grants, mentoring, networking and co-created programs with partner organisations, particularly geared toward artists with migration backgrounds working in visual and interdisciplinary arts.

Geneva’s public art funds (canton and city) support contemporary visual artists through acquisitions, commissions for public art, production grants and support for exhibitions and artist-run initiatives. The focus is on artists living or working in Geneva or with a strong link to the region; grants can cover production costs, fees and in some cases research or development stages for new work.

Basel-Stadt’s culture office supports visual artists through project grants, studio and residency programs, and contributions to exhibitions and art spaces. Given Basel’s strong international art profile, the office often co-funds projects linked to Art Basel, museums and local institutions; eligibility prioritises artists living or working in the canton, and grants mostly cover production, presentation and mobility costs.

The cultural affairs service of the Canton of Vaud offers project grants, artist support schemes and sometimes studio or research scholarships for visual artists active in the canton (including Lausanne). Support often targets production and presentation of new work, regional and international exhibitions, and the strengthening of the local art ecosystem; grants are generally in the small to mid five‑figure CHF range.

The City of Bern funds visual artists and organisations through project grants, work stipends and support for exhibitions and off-spaces. The program aims to reinforce the local contemporary art scene while enabling international collaboration; artists usually need to be resident in Bern or show sustained activity in the city. Funding can cover fees, materials, production and some travel or networking costs.

Zurich’s cultural office is one of the most important municipal funders for visual artists in Switzerland, offering project grants, studio and work scholarships, travel and residency opportunities, as well as support for artist-run spaces and institutions in the city. Grants typically range from a few thousand CHF for smaller projects to larger multi‑year studio or work stipends; applicants usually need a strong connection to Zurich (residence or continuous activity in the local scene).

The Ernst Göhner Foundation is one of Switzerland’s largest private foundations and supports visual arts projects, exhibitions, publications and institutions throughout the country. Individual artists generally apply in collaboration with an institution or for clearly defined projects; the foundation tends to co‑finance production and mediation rather than provide purely personal stipends, with grant sizes ranging from modest to major co‑funding contributions.

Migros Kulturprozent is a major private but quasi‑public cultural funder that supports contemporary visual arts through project grants, exhibitions, prizes and institutional partnerships across Switzerland. Artists typically apply together with partner institutions (museums, art spaces, festivals) for production and presentation funding rather than for fully unrestricted personal grants; amounts vary but can reach substantial levels for ambitious projects.

Federal foundation that supports contemporary visual arts, photography, media art, performance and architecture. It funds new productions, exhibitions and festivals in Switzerland and abroad, curatorial and artistic research, publications, and emerging artist support (art spaces, residencies, gallery grants for art fairs). Typical contributions range from modest project support to substantial production and international presentation funding; applicants must usually be professionally active and based in Switzerland or work with Swiss institutions.

The Federal Office of Culture supports contemporary visual arts mainly through national prizes, exhibitions (such as the Swiss Art Awards), purchase schemes and targeted project support. Funding is geared toward artists and institutions with a strong professional profile in Switzerland, often complementing cantonal and city-level support; amounts range from smaller project grants to significant prize money and commissions.

Swiss Institute in New York is an independent non-profit contemporary art institution that, while primarily an exhibition and program space, also offers residencies, commissions and project support for artists connected to Switzerland. Opportunities are usually linked to curated programs and international collaborations, and often involve production budgets and presentation support rather than open, unrestricted grants.