Switzerland/ 8.1 Support to artists and other creative workers  

8.1.2 Special artists funds

Established with funding from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, "Suisseculture Sociale" is a social capital fund for artists in need; it operates on a subsidiary basis. More specifically, large umbrella organisations like Suisa or Pro Litteris provide such funds to their members. Typical of Switzerland are the numerous small private funds for artists.

All of this, nevertheless, cannot hide the fact that a comprehensive social security framework for artists is nonexistent in Switzerland. The new Federal Law on the Promotion of Culture, enacted at the end of 2009, stipulates (Article 9) that the Confederation and the Pro Helvetia Foundation shall transfer a percentage of the financial assistance granted to creative artists to the individual artist's pension fund or another form of financial provision. The Federal Council shall determine the percentage (see chapter 5.1.4). This approach must now be carried into practice.

Your Comments on this Chapter?