Organizer Information

The Kanton St.Gallen (Amt für Kultur) is the governmental body responsible for cultural promotion within the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Governed by the "Culture Promotion Strategy 2020–2027," the department acts as a catalyst for professional artistic growth. It manages the state's cultural budget and the Lottery Fund to ensure that culture remains a public good, supporting everything from experimental individual research to regional festivals and international exchange.

Title & Description

Kantonale Personenförderung (Individual Career Support)

The Canton is seeking applications for its two primary individual support instruments designed to empower professional artists:

  1. Work Grants (Werkbeiträge): High-level financial awards intended to provide "work phases" for the creation of new works, research, or professional further education.

  2. Studio Residencies (Atelieraufenthalte): Three-month fully funded residencies in Rome or Berlin. These are designed for artists whose work benefits from an urban context or research specific to these historic cultural centers.

Categories

  • Visual Arts: Fine Art, Applied Arts, Design.

  • Performing Arts: Dance and Theater.

  • Literature & Writing.

  • Music & Sound Art.

  • Film & Moving Image.

  • History & Memory: Historical research and archival practices.

Eligibility

  • Residency: Applicants must have a primary residence or workplace in the Canton of St.Gallen for at least 12 months, or a 12-year "lifetime connection" to the Canton.

  • Professionalism: Open only to professional artists. Projects that are part of a degree, school curriculum, or third-party commission are strictly excluded.

  • Exclusivity: In a single year, an artist may apply for either a Work Grant or a Residency, but not both.

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Individual Work Grants: A fixed award of 20,000 CHF per artist.

  • International Residencies: * 3 months of rent-free accommodation in a dedicated studio apartment.

    • A monthly stipend of 3,000 CHF for living expenses (Totaling 9,000 CHF per stay).

  • Regional Project Grants: For artists organizing specific public events (exhibitions/concerts), grants up to 10,000 CHF are available via regional partner organizations.

Application Fee

None

Application Requirements

Submissions must be in German and include:

  • Online Application Form: Completed via the portal.

  • Project Proposal: Detailed description of the intended work or research (Max. 2 A4 pages).

  • CV/Bio: Focused on professional artistic milestones.

  • Portfolio: Documentation of recent work (Visuals, audio, or text excerpts depending on the discipline).

  • Proof of Connection: Documentation verifying the 12-month or 12-year link to the Canton.

How to Apply?

Online Application

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 20 February 2026

  • Jury Deliberation: March – April

  • Notification of Selection: By the end of May.

  • Residency Periods: Scheduled in 3-month blocks for the 2026 and 2027 calendar years.

Location

Switzerland

Additional Details

The selection process is two-tiered: a specialized jury for each discipline first reviews the dossiers, followed by a joint session of all juries to finalize winners. Evaluation is based on Relevance (added cultural value), Echo (public engagement), Originality (uniqueness), and Professionalism (execution capability). The Canton explicitly encourages projects that are "sperrig" (challenging) or experimental in nature.

Website Link: https://www.sg.ch/kultur/kulturfoerderung/foerderung-beantragen/kulturwohnung.html