Pro Helvetia Warsaw is a Liaison Office of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, set up in 1992. It reaches out to surrounding countries in Central and Eastern Europe, coordinating projects not only in Poland, but also in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – and Ukraine. The activities which are granted support are often longer-term, multiphase projects conceived locally and involving several regional centres or countries.

The office in Warsaw initiates, finances and organizes a great variety of artistic projects that are relevant to all parties involved and reflect Switzerland’s multicultural character, always placing the emphasis on contemporary art projects noteworthy for their quality and originality. Pro Helvetia Warsaw bases all decisions to become involved in a project on the concept of mutuality and respect, so as to ensure that both sides profit from the exchange.

Architecture, graphic design, comics, contemporary dance, photography and music are the areas that Pro Helvetia has focused on in Poland in the past few years. Today, Pro Helvetia Warsaw takes a particular interest in literature and cooperation in the region states. Exchange of artists and cultural practitioners is a further priority of Pro Helvetia Warsaw in connection with the artists-in-residence programmes.

The office in Warsaw contains a small library on Swiss culture, which is open to the public during office hours.