Summary

The National Cultural Dialogue (NCD) decided on May 4, 2026 to launch the pilot edition of the «Culturalforum Switzerland». The forum will take place on June 19, 2027 in La Chaux-de-Fonds as part of the «Capitale culturale suisse». It is aimed at cultural actors, professionals from business, education, research, social services and health, as well as politicians at all levels of government. The guiding motto is «Culture is Society». The forum is intended to make visible the mutual dependencies between culture and other socially relevant areas.

People

  • Head of the Federal Department of the Interior (FDI) (Chair NCD)

Topics

  • National cultural policy
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Cultural promotion
  • Swiss cultural strategy

Clarus Lead

The Culturalforum Switzerland marks a strategic turning point in Swiss cultural policy: for the first time, the federal government institutionalizes a national dialogue that positions culture not in isolation, but as a central interface with business, education, and health. This reorientation signals that cultural promotion will in future be understood as a cross-sectional task – relevant for decision-makers in all sectors and at all levels of government.

Detailed Summary

The National Cultural Dialogue was founded in 2011 and brings together representatives from the federal government, cantons, cities and municipalities at two levels: a political level for institutional representatives and an expert level for cultural promotion. The collaboration is based on an agreement from 2011. The strategic steering body consists of the head of the FDI, representatives of the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Education and Culture (EDK), the Swiss Association of Cities (SSV) and the Swiss Association of Municipalities (SGV).

The new Culturalforum explicitly addresses the interdependencies between culture and other societal fields. Health, education, research, social services and business are understood as areas that mutually influence and condition culture. This networking perspective is intended to be brought systematically into focus through the forum for the first time, thereby making the societal significance of cultural policy visible beyond traditional cultural circles.

Key Statements

  • The Culturalforum Switzerland is the first national platform that establishes culture as an interface with other policy areas
  • The National Cultural Dialogue serves as a coordinating steering body between the federal government, cantons, cities and municipalities
  • Culture is positioned as a cross-sectional task that influences business, education, research, social services and health

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: On what empirical findings is the assumption of mutual dependencies between culture and health, education or business based? What data substantiate these interactions?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: How is it ensured that the expert level of the NCD (cultural promotion) and the political level can work independently from each other when both meet in the same forum?

  3. Causality/Alternatives: Why was 2027 chosen as the start date? Are there alternative formats or platforms that already pursue similar goals?

  4. Feasibility: How concrete are the planned work results of the forum? What binding resolutions or recommendations are to be produced?

  5. Representation: Are cultural minorities and marginalized art forms adequately represented in the forum's selection of actors?

References

Primary Source: National Cultural Dialogue – Pilot Edition Culturalforum Switzerland – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/zTWedDaZ355MY63DspKF-

Verification Status: ✓ 05.05.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Checking: 05.05.2026