Cultural policy First Swiss Capital of Culture receives CHF 2 million from the Confederation

La Chaux-de-Fonds NE is to become Switzerland's first Capital of Culture in 2027. The Federal Office of Culture is supporting the first edition of the project with two million francs.

The Federal Council announced the launch of a Swiss Capital of Culture in the 2025-2028 Cultural Dispatch. As with the European Capitals of Culture, the Swiss project will take place in regularly changing cities.

La Chaux-de-Fonds, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is to be Switzerland's first Capital of Culture in 2027. The organizers want to attract one million visitors with a programme spread over an entire year.

This project is of particular interest for a multilingual and multicultural country like Switzerland, the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Thursday. The Swiss Capital of Culture also contributes to enhancing Switzerland's cultural diversity, according to the Federal Council's Message on Culture.

"It's important that we come together"

Carine Bachmann, Director of the FOC, emphasizes the broad definition of culture that the Swiss Capital of Culture represents: "In uncertain times, it is important that we come together instead of isolating ourselves." It is this vision of an open and generous culture that underpins the first edition of the Swiss Capital of Culture in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

The budget is estimated at 18.5 million francs. The project is being managed by the La Chaux-de-Fonds Swiss Capital of Culture Association. Association president Jean Studer welcomes the federal government's gesture: "At this stage, we have raised CHF 14.5 million of the budgeted CHF 18.5 million," he told Keystone-SDA on Thursday.

In addition to the two million francs from the Confederation, 2.5 million francs each have been received from La Chaux-de-Fonds, the canton of Neuchâtel and Loterie Romande, as well as five million francs from sponsors.

"The trend is positive," says Studer, even if he would have liked to have finalized the budget before the end of the year. Efforts must now be made "on the side of private sponsors", as nothing more can be expected from the public purse.

According to BAK spokeswoman Anne Weibel, a subsidy for the next Capitals of Culture in 2030 and 2033 is not yet in sight: "After this first experience, an evaluation must be carried out."