The Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans supports two types of projects: Cooperation projects and small actions.

Cooperation projects
Cooperation projects are projects with a mid-term timescale which focus on the strengthening of cultural actors, organisations and platforms considered as agents of change and incubators for a diversified and lively cultural scene.

From 2008 all cooperation projects are conceived as regional projects fostering trans-border and inter-country as well as interethnic and intercultural collaboration. Cooperation with experts and specialized organisations from the region, Switzerland and Europe contributes to knowledge transfer and development of quality.

Cooperation projects are identified on the basis of public invitations to submit applications and are in the responsibility of the regional SCP office in Sarajevo. 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.

Small actions support a great variety of different cultural actors with an emphasis on cultural diversity and accessibility for emerging artists. Small actions put a particular focus on decentralisation and cultural minorities. They contribute to the enrichment and capacity development of the cultural scene.

As of 2008, small actions are being supported in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia. They are in the responsibility of the local offices in the respective countries. The criteria for the selection of small actions are defined in the “Regional Working Guidelines” of the SCP. Small actions are selected by a local board in each country and on the basis of applications.


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 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.