Ticino pays municipalities up to CHF 30,000 a year for independent-scene spaces

The canton of Ticino is supporting municipalities that provide spaces for the independent cultural scene. The Dipartimento dell'educazione, della cultura e dello sport (DECS) covers up to 50 per cent of the costs, up to a maximum of CHF 30,000 a year, for four years, from the Swisslos fund.¹²

It is not the band or ensemble that applies, but the municipality: either for premises it owns and rents out at a reduced rate, or for rent it pays to third parties. The spaces are used for production or performance. Institutional culture and volunteer work are excluded.¹ Applications can be submitted from 7 September to 1 December 2026, decisions will be made by 1 February 2027 and projects will start in mid-2027 at the earliest.¹

According to Ticinonline, around a dozen municipalities have expressed interest. The call follows a study by the cantonal Osservatorio culturale on spaces for independent culture, whose findings were published on 27 February 2026.² Applications must include a letter of intent signed by the artists involved.¹

Next step: municipalities apply by 1 December 2026, and the successful projects will be announced in early 2027.¹²