The «COINCIDENCIA – Swiss & South American Cultural Exchanges» programme was launched within the framework of the Swiss Government’s 2016-2020 Cultural Policy Statement («Kulturbotschaft») in order to promote the dissemination of Swiss arts and culture in South America and to strengthen Swiss-South American cultural exchange. Around 250 projects, including exhibitions, concert and theatre tours, reading tours and residencies, have been realised between 2017 and 2020. They have led to cooperations between cultural practitioners and institutions in Switzerland and their counterparts in ten South American countries.

Focus on partnerships

Focusing on exchanges between Switzerland and countries of South America, COINCIDENCIA was launched in October 2017, with four agents spread accross South America, in cities such as Buenos Aires, Bogotá, São Paulo and Santiago. The cultural exchange programme supported projects that can involve partners anywhere on the continent, from multiple fields such as the performing arts, visual arts, literature and music, as well as multi- and transdisciplinary approaches.

Multiplying formats

COINCIDENCIA provided support for projects developed by partners in South America and Switzerland, in various formats, such as exhibitions, residencies, research platforms, tours, co-productions, translations and research trips. It strengthened critical thinking in the arts through the circulation of people and content and through the exchange of tools between artists. It brought autonomous initiatives, curators, festivals and institutions closer together.

Liaison Office

Following the work of COINCIDENCIA, it was decided that Pro Helvetia would establish a permanent Liaison Office in the region, creating its first decentralised office, as well as maintaining its structure, “further broadening the relation between Switzerland and the region.

To learn more about the projects supported by the COINCIDENCIA programme between 2017-2020, please click here.