The Federal Office for Culture

The Confederation's cultural activities within Switzerland are essentially based on the interplay of the Federal Office of Culture and Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council. The Federal Office of Culture is the strategic body responsible for drawing up and implementing the Confederation's culture policy. Its remit covers tasks that are strictly reserved to the Confederation, namely improving the institutional framework, drafting enactments in the culture sector, reviewing the compatibility of enactments in other political areas (value added tax, international free trade, vocational education, languages, etc.) with the needs of culture and - in coordination with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) - negotiating agreements in the cultural sector, representing Switzerland in multilateral organisations and cultivating international relationships. Its promotion activities comprise two areas: cultural heritage (Baukultur, transfer of cultural assets, museums and collections) and cultural creativity (films, prizes and awards, support for cultural organisations), also including promoting the foundations of culture (language and understanding policy, musical education, promotion of reading, travellers, Swiss schools abroad).