Switzerland/ 1. Historical perspective: cultural policies and instruments  

Federal involvement in the development of Swiss cultural policy gained a new, more modern momentum following the transformation of Pro Helvetia (otherwise known as the Arts Council of Switzerland) into a public foundation in 1949. Up until this time, support for culture was derived mainly from the cantons and cities. Federal support for cultural activities was minimal with the exception of resources provided to build the Swiss National Library and National Museum. Today, federal involvement in cultural life has increased. However, the cantons and cities continue to provide the majority of resources to support cultural activities.

During the 1950s, there were signs that the quality of life in Switzerland was improving. General rates of participation in cultural life increased parallel to rising levels of education, wide spread use of the mass media and a reduction in the amount of hours devoted to working life. At the same time traditional structures, including the family, were breaking up and the sprawl of urbanisation was expanding. The arts tried to address these societal developments on various levels which led to a broader mandate and definition of culture.

Until the end of the 1960s / early 1970s, culture was mainly considered a private matter in Switzerland. Although culture was founded by the cities, the cantons and the Swiss Confederation, there was almost no public discussion on it. In the early 1970s, discussion on cultural policy intensified and resulted in the establishment of a legal basis and public mission for Pro Helvetia; the creation of a temporary Federal Commission of Experts for Swiss Cultural Matters (the Clottu Commission, 1969); the Conference of Swiss Cities on Cultural Matters (KSK, 1970); and the establishment of a separate Federal Office for Culture in 1975.

While the concept of culture was being broadened, culture as an important dimension in many policy sectors was being discussed. National cohesion (identity) and diversity as well as the growing gaps between the cities and rural areas became central issues in this context.

There were several strategic cultural policy papers presented during the 1980s which tried to secure a fundamental basis for culture on many policy levels as well as make proposals for programmes. For example, in 1980 the federal government presented its first explicit proposal for culture in the Parliament and in 1984 the Conference of Swiss Cities on Cultural Matters (KSK) presented its first paper about cultural policy on the local level. In 1986, a civic initiative and ensuing (yet unsuccessful) referendum intended to introduce general aspects of cultural policy into the Federal Constitution. Attention given to cultural exchanges with foreign countries increased during this time.

During the 1980s, there was a growing interest on the part of the cantons and cities to increase their support to cultural activities. This interest manifested itself into action and the realisation that a more comprehensive structure for cultural policy at the local level was required. Toward the end of the 1980s, evaluation of cultural policies appeared on political agendas and the Conference of Cultural Representatives of the Cantons and the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK) were established.

Public budgets were cut in the early 1990s. Responsibilities between the different levels of government in the field of culture needed to be more clearly defined in areas such as support to institutions of national interest, equality between different language regions of the country and foreign policy. There was also renewed interest in pursuing scientific debates about culture and cultural policy as well as continuing public discussions on the establishment of a constitutional basis for cultural competencies.

Today, culture is an element in different policy fields. In the context of globalisation, for example, the Swiss government has given cultural foreign policy a new priority. Other important subjects of the national debate are the role of culture in the field of national cohesion (including the discussion of a language and minority policy) or the establishment of a Swiss-wide memo-policy. Also, the debate about cultural industries as part of a future orientated cultural policy is new on the agenda.

With the new millennium, the age old debates on establishing a constitutional basis for culture and the pursuit of a federal model for cultural policy development have taken an important step forward. On the legal base of the revised constitution, a cultural support law is currently being drafted under the leadership of the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK). It will be proposed to the Parliament in January 2008. At the same time the Law on Pro Helvetia will be revised, aiming towards a better co-ordination of the foundation's activities, mainly with the Federal Office of Cultural Affairs (BAK) in Switzerland and abroad. Both laws will not be in force before 2010.