Since the regionalisation of all our activities in 2008, the Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans has been supporting Regional Cooperation Projects and Small Actions. In 2012 we plan to endorse cultural network projects, while Pro Helvetia will remain supporting cultural exchange projects between Switzerland and the countries in the region.

Regional Cooperation Projects
Regional projects aim at fostering cross-border and inter-country as well as interethnic and intercultural collaboration. In addition, the cooperation with recognised experts and profiled existing organisations and cultural infrastructure, primarily from the region, contributes to the transfer of knowledge and guarantees quality.

The collaboration aims at establishing (and/or revival) of durable partnerships and creation and strengthening of non-formal networks and platforms. These are considered as independent agents of change and as incubators for diversified and lively cultural scenes by contributing to an active and participatory social life of communities, to social and political dialogue and to the socio-economical attractiveness of places.

Additionally, organisational / institutional strengthening is one of the important components of this Programme line.

Regional Cooperation Projects are identified on the basis of public calls for applications. The selection is made by the Regional Steering Committee of the SCP.


Small Actions
Small actions are short-term projects, realized by local partner organisations, to which subsidiary project-specific contributions are granted.

A great variety of artists/cultural actors has been supported through the Small Actions with an emphasis on cultural diversity and accessibility for emerging artists. Small actions put a particular focus on decentralisation and promotion of cultural minorities. They contribute to the enrichment and capacity development of the cultural scene.

In the frames of the SCP regionalisation plan, Small Actions phase out from the region until the end of 2011. There are no further calls planned for this type of projects in any of the countries of the region.

Cultural Network Development Projects (CNDPs)
Further development of independent cultural operators in the region and a build-on through merging in or strengthening of larger national or regional networks is perceived by the SCP as an optimum approach and model of work that can advance their chances in future.

SCP will support up to six CNDPs during 2012 that will be selected by the Regional Steering Committee in November 2011.

Swiss-Balkan Cultural Exchange Projects
In addition to the activities of the SCP, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia supports cultural exchange projects between artists from Switzerland and programmers/ institutions/organisers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia. The goal is to create a network between various art and cultural scenes in the region and cultural workers from Switzerland.

Local organizers can apply once a year, on the basis of an open call, for funding for projects which involve Swiss participants from all the different art disciplines and provided they meet the formal and thematic criteria of Pro Helvetia. Projects are decided by the Pro Helvetia panel.