Swiss cities want to tie culture funding to fair fees

The Swiss Cities Association (SSV) and the Cities' Conference for Culture (SKK) want to tie funding to fair fees and social contributions.¹ The two bodies (Städteverband and Städtekonferenz Kultur) published a position paper on 20 October 2026.¹³

Cities can, according to the paper, amend their regulations so that recommended fees and social contributions become mandatory in project applications.² They can also tie subsidies for institutions to fair working conditions.¹

Lausanne already requires a minimum wage for any subsidy of 100,000 francs or more.² Yverdon-les-Bains has made compliance with the pay recommendations binding for its institutions.² Zurich and Geneva want to ensure the same at the institutions they fund.² Bern adopted this rule in 2024 without a bigger budget and funded fewer projects.² The city increased its funding budget the following year, convinced by the approach.²

Cities provide around half of all public funding for culture, the cantons 40 per cent.¹ The SSV and SKK therefore call on the cantons to adopt similar measures.¹ They ask the federal government for longer deadlines to close contribution gaps in old-age insurance (AHV).¹ The law currently sets a deadline of five years for this.² They also demand a lower entry threshold for occupational pensions (BVG), as many fail to reach the minimum income despite several jobs.¹²

Next step: the cities want to take the issue forward in the National Cultural Dialogue, and no date has been set.²