Culture

Apply for funding

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I am incredibly grateful to the SCF for supporting my work as a Swiss playwright in the UK. They helped both fund and market my first stage play, and their participation was essential in giving me the credibility I needed. The fact that they took a chance on me at such an early stage in my career is something I will remember and value forever.

Nadia Cavelle, Writer, Director, Actor

 

Application Guidelines

The Swiss Cultural Fund UK supports emerging and established Swiss artistic talents presenting their work in the United Kingdom. The SCF offers two grant categories: Standard Grants of up to £3,000 and one annual Major Grant of up to £15,000. Please read the guidelines below carefully to find out about the eligibility of your project.

Apply for the upcoming submission deadlines for the Standard Grant (15 February, 10 May and 11 October) or for the Major Grant (10 May 2026).

What do we fund?

The SCF supports the public presentation of works by artists who are Swiss nationals; or artists who are resident in Switzerland and can demonstrate significant artistic presence in important cultural events in Switzerland.

Please note that artists who are students will not be supported by means of a bursary or similar grant.

The production of a project that is in a Research & Development phase when applying can be supported if a public presentation has been confirmed with a UK venue. The R&D phase itself is not eligible for funding. The applicant must specify how they intend to allocate the funding they apply for.

 

What grant categories are available?

Standard Grant – Up to £3,000 per project: With three open calls per year, this grant category will continue to provide essential complementary funding to help ideas reach their full potential. It enables Swiss and Switzerland-based artists and cultural practitioners to present their work, expand networks, and gain visibility within the UK cultural landscape. This funding often acts as a springboard for emerging artists.

Application deadlines: 15 February, 10 May, 11 October 2026
Funding Decisions: within a month of the respective deadline

Major Grant – £10,000 to £15,000: The Major Grant awards one grant per year to an established cultural institution programming in the UK. Eligibility requires the institution to have a broad audience reach and to secure matching funds from other sources. The grant provides £10,000 to £15,000 to offer a unique platform to Swiss artistic talents; and, to British organisations, the opportunity to strengthen their relationships with the Swiss artistic scene.

Application deadline: 10 May 2026
Funding Decision: end of June

 

Who can apply?

Standard Grant: individual Swiss or Switzerland-based artists; cultural organisations. Artists can only apply once they have a project planned with a well-established and recognized cultural organisation or venue in the UK.

Major Grant: Cultural organisations offering a wide exposure for a Swiss or Switzerland-based artist in the UK. A wide exposure is loosely defined but should align with the following examples:

  • In visual arts, design and fashion: e.g. exhibition duration of minimum one month and/or a minimum footfall of 2,000 people.
  • In performing arts and music: e.g. minimum audience of 1,000 people in total.

 

When can you apply?

The Project must take place at least six weeks (Standard Grant) or three months (Major Grant) after the application submission deadline and within two years. The funding decision is announced within one month (Standard Grant) and two months (Major Grant) of the respective deadline. Applications submitted after the deadline cannot be considered.

2026 application deadlines

  • 15.02.26: application deadline for Standard Grants of up to £3,000 (Apply).
  • 10.05.26: application deadline for Standard Grants of up to £3,000 (Applications open on 16.02) and Major Grant of up to £15,000 (Apply).
  • 11.10.26: application deadline for Standard Grants of up to £3,000. 

The Trustees will invite the Major Grant’s pre-selected candidates for a follow-up discussion to clarify any questions before confirming the grant. This meeting is scheduled on 17 June 2026.

 

How much can you apply for?

Standard Grant: up to £3,000

Major Grant: £10,000 to £15,000
To be eligible for the Major Grant, the applicant must secure matching funds from other sources, e.g.

  • Financial income from third party funding (public and private cultural funding)
  • In-kind income (eg. venue hire, instruments, material, catering)
  • Projected revenue (ticket sales)

A breakdown of the pending and confirmed income sources is requested. Applications with confirmed funding will receive priority.

Applicants for a Major Grant can opt for their project to be considered for a Standard Grant should it be rejected for the Major Grant. Applicants will be requested to provide an adapted project description and budget within their Major Grant application.

Please note that support for one artist or organisation in the Standard Grant category will generally not exceed £3,000 over two consecutive financial years. Furthermore, the same project cannot be supported twice (eg. the SCF supported the presentation of a new work, with which you now wish to tour. This second application does not qualify for support in the Standard Grant category). The recipient of a Standard Grant can, however, apply for a Major Grant and vice versa without restriction.

 

What does the application entail?

The application needs to be submitted in English and include the following essential documents:

  • Completed Application Form via the online platform Zealous
  • Budget (expenditure and projected income, including status of income and funding allocation)
  • CV(s) of the represented artist(s) (max. two A4 pages per CV)
  • Additional PDF (max. two A4 pages for Standard Grants and four A4 pages for Major Grants) : further relevant details about the project and/or image(s)
  • Optional content: Media file (max. one file)

In addition, applicants for the Major Grant will be requested to provide:

  • Confirmation letters from the main funders and partners

Notes: Applications exceeding the stated PDF file sizes or lacking any of the essential content will be rejected. The SCF expects its support to be acknowledged in the communications of the projects supported. Details will be shared after a grant has been approved.

 

What are our Selection Criteria?

The Project must:

  • demonstrate a high standard of artistic quality or specialist skill
  • be innovative in subject and professional in implementation
  • be accessible to the public
  • demonstrate an appropriate cost-benefit ratio, with a suitable budget

Special attention is given to projects that:

  • forge strong partnerships with renowned institutions throughout the UK to ensure the widest possible exposure and the best qualitative impact
  • demonstrate how artistic perspectives can highlight diverse voices and innovative takes in societal topics
  • engage with local artists and / or local communities
  • stimulate Swiss artists’ careers and networks
  • promote sustainability and social inclusivity

 

Apply for the next submission deadline

Do you have a question? Contact

 

Please note that the application guidelines stated above, relating to the Major Grant in particular, may be adapted in future years.

Please note that the trustees are unable to enter into any correspondence about decisions taken in board meetings concerning financial support for particular projects.

For information on creative visits to the UK go to Arts Infopoint UK.

We take good care of your personal information. For details of our data privacy policy, please click here. The Swiss Cultural Fund UK Limited is registered as a British charity (803628) and as a company limited by guarantee (02474866). It is operated by the Culture Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in the UK.