Why new funding models are strengthening the performing arts of Zürich

The Purpose

City funding for dance and theatre comes from two funding streams – one for institutions and another for artists and independent groups. This approach often leads to insecurity for the sector’s many smaller groups and individual artists. It also means that newer, more diverse performers struggle to break through.

The Challenge

From 2024, the City plans to radically overhaul its funding and grants system, as well as create some targeted networks and funding pots to fill gaps in sector development support. 

Zurich is keen to strengthen the dance and theatre offer for children and young people.

The Solution

From 2024, the central element of the new system will be ‘concept funding’, whereby most dance and theatre institutions and practitioners will get multi-year funding based on a ‘concept’ they pitch to the City. These can be submitted by institutions, individual organisations and artists, or by groups. Support is then offered over six years for successful bids from institutions or two to four years for groups and individuals. This offers a degree of continuity and certainty, often rare on the performing arts scene.

An independent, broad-based jury will award the concept funding and also make recommendations to the City. Concept funding will be restricted to 12 years or two allocation periods. Several major institutions, including Zürich Shauspielhaus, the Neumarkt Theater, and theatre and dance venues owned by the City, will continue to receive their previous funding on a long-term basis. However, they will also receive direct funding to support Zürich artists and groups, with autonomy in deciding how to spend it. This offers the institutions more creative freedom, makes them more attractive to artists, and eliminates the former ‘double dependency’ of independent artists on institutions on the one hand and funding committees on the other. 

Since 2021, the City has been annually contributing CHF 200,000 towards the creation of the artFAQ association. This new platform is a merger between several production and touring specialists who from 2021-2024 will offer a contact point for advice, networking, training and further education, especially for young artists. Its support will address a previous lack of production and marketing expertise and is aimed at strengthening the sector’s foundations. 

The Impact

An ‘uncurated space’ will open in 2023 for the independent dance and theatre scene. This will offer low barriers to access compared to programmed venues – allowing groups to rehearse or perform, and try out more experimental work. This will benefit less established groups, helping them gain visibility and contacts within the sector. 

Finally, the City is keen to strengthen the dance and theatre offer for children and young people and is offering an annual loan of CHF 400,000 towards this end. It hopes this will lead to the creation of a dedicated venue serving this audience. 

The City hopes that these measures will revitalise its theatre and dance scene, ensure excellence, reinforce networking, and give a measure of certainty and continuity to creative professionals.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022

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