Pro Helvetia supports and promotes...
Additional information, application deadlines, documentation
Discipline areas
- Visual Arts
- Film
- Music
- Literature and the humanities
- Theatre
- Dance
- Culture & Society
- International
- Inter- and Multidisciplinary Projects
Guide for Applicants 2003 (PDF file 188K)
Literature and the Humanities
Objectives
In the Literature and Humanities sector, Pro Helvetia promotes literary work in Switzerland, efforts to bring the fruits of this work to foreign audiences, and literary and scholarly dialogue among the various regions of Switzerland and between Switzerland and other countries. It also offers advice on projects and initiatives.
Activities
In the Literature and Humanities sector, Pro Helvetia can award the following support:
Literary work grants
To Swiss writers or writers resident in Switzerland, to enable them to dedicate themselves uninterruptedly to a new work. To be eligible, authors must already have published books in the literary category (self-published or self-financed books cannot be taken into account). Work grants can only be awarded to an author once every five years. The selection is made by the specialist group of the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the literary commission. Applications are also accepted.
Work grants for translators
To Swiss literary translators or translators outside Switzerland who regularly translate Swiss literature. Work grants are intended to enable important translating projects to be realised, but can also be awarded in recognition of long-standing contributions to literary mediation. The selection is made by the specialist group of the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the literary commission. Applications are also accepted.
Printing subsidies
Publishing houses can apply for Pro Helvetia printing subsidies for specific publications. These grants can be awarded for:
- works, above all scholarly studies, with a Swiss focus;
- individual literary works in Italian or Rhaeto-Romanic;
- literary magazines.
The following categories are ineligible:
- individual literary works in German or French with the exception of collected works and collected editions;
- specialised non-fiction, textbooks, dictionaries and encyclopaedias, reference books;
- festschrifts, dissertations, master’s and licentiate theses;
- bibliophile editions;
- new editions;
- books that have already been printed or published;
- self-published or self-financed publications.
Translation grants
Publishing houses can apply to Pro Helvetia for book- translation grants. Grants can be awarded for:
- literary works by Swiss authors;
- books devoted to a Swiss cultural theme.
The following categories are ineligible:
- specialised non-fiction, textbooks and scholarly/scientific publications;
- publications that have already been awarded a printing subsidy. No publication may receive both a printing subsidy and a translation grant.
Event subsidies
On application, Pro Helvetia can provide support for events. Grants can be awarded for:
- literary and scholarly events in Switzerland that promote interregional or intercultural exchange;
- events abroad that serve to bring Swiss literature to foreign audiences.
The following categories are ineligible:
- commercial events;
- events that are not accessible to the general public or cater to a specialist audience.
Exchanges
Pro Helvetia supports contacts between Swiss and foreign cultural practitioners and scholars. Grants can be awarded for:
- readings and lectures by Swiss authors abroad;
- readings and lectures by Swiss authors in Switzerland in the context of interregional dialogue;
- participation by Swiss authors in congresses, symposia, festivals and similar events abroad;
- participation by foreign authors in such events in Switzerland (only where they demonstrate a clear link to Swiss culture);
- study visits by foreign scholars wishing to research some aspect of Swiss culture in Switzerland.
The following categories are ineligible:
- grants for organisational or infrastructural purposes;
- general applications by whole groups.
Distributing books to libraries
Pro Helvetia distributes literary works and non-fiction books relating to all of the Council’s areas of commitment to foreign libraries. Books can be sent to:
- institutions accessible to a wide audience;
- institutions whose research and teaching regularly touch on Swiss subjects.
The following categories are ineligible:
- provision of books to individuals;
- provision of books for representational or advertising purposes;
- language-teaching books and materials;
- maps;
- out-of-print and antiquarian books;
- bibliophile editions.
Book exhibitions
On application, Pro Helvetia puts together books exhibitions in a non-commercial framework for congresses, conferences and other cultural events abroad.
The following categories are ineligible:
- commercial book fairs, which are the province of publishers’ associations;
- contributions to exhibition infrastructures (rent for stands, registration fees, salaries, etc.).
Criteria
The general Pro Helvetia criteria apply.
Restrictions
The general exclusionary criteria and stipulated in the individual sections above and below apply.
Procedural rules
When submitting an application for printing subsidies or translation grants, please use the “Contributions to publications” form (G/F/I/E). This form and the “Translation grants” information sheet (G/F/E) are available under category «Forms and information sheets»
