<p>Visit the culture portal for Switzerland - <a href="http://www.dsk.ch" target="_blank">Arte 24</a></p>

<p><strong>The Mandate</strong></p>

<p>Pro Helvetia Schweizer Kulturstiftung (the Arts Council of Switzerland) was established by legislation in 1939.&nbsp; The purposes of the organisation are to:</p>

<ul>
<li>preserve and maintain Switzerland&#39;s cultural identity</li>
<li>promote cultural creativity on the basis of the energies at work in the cantons, linguistic regions and cultural groupings</li>
<li>encourage domestic cultural exchange among Switzerland&#39;s linguistic regions and cultural groupings and to</li>
<li>foster cultural relations with other countries.</li>
</ul>

<p>The Council serves professional arts,&nbsp;music, theatre, dance, visual arts,&nbsp;cultural animatio, heritage, folk or traditional culture, museums and galleries, writing, support for book and&nbsp;magazine publishing, and translation, film and&nbsp;multi media arts.</p>

<p><strong>The Council</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>provides financial support to arts/cultural organizations</li>
<li>provides financial support to individuals in the arts/culture</li>
<li>advises the national government on matters related to the arts/culture</li>
<li>promotes public understanding and appreciation of the arts/culture</li>
<li>has responsibility at the national level for co-ordinating international cultural relations and exchanges</li>
<li>organises and manages cultural activities or events</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>The Governing Body</strong></p>

<p>The 25 members of the&nbsp;Board of Trustees&nbsp;are appointed by the government and serve an eight year term (which is extendable by a further four years).&nbsp; The members of the&nbsp;Board represent different cultural fields and professions as well as minority language groups.&nbsp; The Board deal with&nbsp;the applications for funding and define the overall strategies of the&nbsp;organisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The Staff</strong></p>

<p>Pro Helvetia has 78 members of staff in Switzerland and a further fifty in the organisation&#39;s offices in other countries.&nbsp; The staff are not public servants.&nbsp; Most of the staff have had experience working directly in the arts or culture.The director is appointed by the Board.&nbsp; The organisation has a regional office in Geneva to represent French speakers.</p>

<p><strong>Relationship with Government</strong></p>

<p>Pro Helvetia&#39;s closest relationship is with the Federal Office of Culture, which is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.&nbsp; The organisation&nbsp;is a foundation under public law, with the board having the authority to take all decisions in full autonomy, however the Federal Office of Culture officially supervises the organisationm ensuring that the regulations of Federal law are observed and that the terms and conditions, and the donation purposes of the foundation are adhered to.</p>

<p>Pro Helvetia is required to file an annual report with the legislature or government and its financial accounts are audited by the government auditor or their appointed auditor.</p>

<p>The Government</p>

<ul>
<li>appoints the members of the governing body</li>
<li>establishes the overall policies within which the organisation works</li>
<li>determines the amount of funding the organisation receives</li>
</ul>

<p>The organisation</p>

<ul>
<li>determines its own policies</li>
<li>determines its own current priorities</li>
<li>establishes its own strategic plan</li>
<li>appoints its chief executive officer</li>
<li>selects its other staff members</li>
<li>determines the allocation of the budget to various programs and activities</li>
<li>establishes its various funding programs</li>
<li>determines who will receive is financial support</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Budget and Revenue Sources</strong></p>

<p>The organisation&#39;s total budget in the current year is CHF30m (approx US$20m), all of which is contributed by the national government.&nbsp; The organisation was established with an initial endowment from the government, it receives legally obligated multi-year funding&nbsp;from the government.&nbsp; Over the last five years funding for the organisation has increased.</p>

<p><strong>Programs of Financial Support</strong></p>

<p>Pro Helvetia provides financial support to organisations and individuals, for professional activities. Most of its programs are organised by discipline or sector.&nbsp;&nbsp; There is a state-approved commission of appeal.</p>

<p>The funds can be used for</p>

<ul>
<li>creation</li>
<li>production</li>
<li>presentation and exhibition publication</li>
<li>deficit reduction.</li>
</ul>

<p>The funds cannot be used for</p>

<ul>
<li>activities by non-professionals</li>
<li>scholarships</li>
<li>conservation and preservation</li>
<li>capital expenses</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;<strong>Assessment of Applications for Financial Support</strong></p>

<p>Applications for less than CHF 20,000 are sent to the relevant departments who will assess the application and make awards.&nbsp; Applications for grants of&nbsp;over CHF 20,000 are decided upon by the board.</p>

<p>Unique or Special Features of the Organisation</p>

<p>Pro Helvetia is an independent Foundation of public law, fully financed by the state through parliament.</p>

<p><strong>Greatest Current Challenge</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>To secure, through parliament, the next four years&#39; funding</li>
<li>To achieve a well working task of differentiation with the Federal office for culture and the agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Greatest Current Strength</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>The organisation&#39;s independence and autonomy</li>
<li>The organisation&#39;s expertise, thanks to a board with broad competence.</li>
</ul>