[Medienmitteilung der Taskforce Culture]
Today, at the invitation of the Federal Office of Culture FOC, an information and exchange meeting on the upcoming Cultural Message took place in Bern, in the presence of Federal Councillor Alain Berset and the Director of the FOC, Carine Bachmann. The cultural associations were able to inform themselves about and exchange views on the central fields of action of cultural policy for the years 2025-2028. The Taskforce Culture welcomes the involvement of the cultural associations, which took place for the first time in this form.
The Cultural Message sets out the strategic direction of the Confederation’s cultural policy for a period of four years. It contains the goals, the most important measures and the financing framework for all federal funding areas.
Today’s meeting focused on the Confederation’s cultural policy priorities for the years 2025-2028, condensed into the following six fields of action: Culture and digital transformation, Culture and sustainable development, Cultural heritage as a living memory, Updating the cultural funding system, Culture as a working world and Governance in the cultural sector. The Taskforce Culture supports the defined fields of action and welcomes the constructive exchange. The fields of action also make it clear once again what major challenges the Swiss cultural sector will face in the coming years.
In May 2023, the consultation draft of the Cultural Message 2025-2028 will be available with concrete measures in the various funding areas. Only then will it be known what financial resources are to be made available for national cultural promotion 2025-2028. All interested persons and organisations will then be able to express their views during the consultation process.
It is already clear to the Taskforce Culture that in view of the challenges facing the cultural sector and taking inflation into account, an increase in the cultural budget is unavoidable. In addition, legal adjustments to social security will be necessary, which will not only affect the cultural sector, but all “precarious” forms of work, i.e. temporary employees, multiple employees, partially self-employed persons or also persons similar to employers. There is a need for action here across all sectors.
The core group of the Taskforce Culture: Stefan Breitenmoser (SMPA – Swiss Music Promoters Association), René Gerber (Cinésuisse – umbrella organisation of the Swiss film and audiovisual industry, ProCinema – Swiss association for cinema and film distribution), Cyril Tissot (DANSE SUISSE – professional association of Swiss dance professionals), Sandra Künzi (t. Theaterschaffen Schweiz), Alex Meszmer (Suisseculture), Jonatan Niedrig (PETZI – Association of Swiss Music Clubs and Festivals), Anne Papilloud (SSRS – Syndicat Suisse Romand du Spectacle), Nicole Pfister Fetz (A*dS – Authors of Switzerland, Suisseculture Sociale), Rosmarie Quadranti (Cultura), Nina Rindlisbacher (SONART – Swiss Musicians), Beat Santschi (SMV – Swiss Musicians’ Union), Ruedi Schweizer (Night of Light), Sandra Tinner (SMR – Swiss Music Council), Regine Helbling (Visarte – Professional Association of Visual Arts Switzerland)