Jelena Delic- Photography by © Pro Helvetia
bluebee met Jelena Delic to talk about the inspiring but complex ecosystem of the art world and the impact of foundations on the wider society.
Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, is a public-law foundation, specialising in the promotion of Swiss arts and culture with a focus on diversity and high quality. Jelena works as a specialist for the Visual Arts department and is in charge of the promotion of aspiring artists. As a possible reason for the success of a significant cohort of Swiss artists internationally, Jelena mentions that the country provides a stable ecosystem for cultural promotion comprised of a mix of federal institutions (including Pro Helvetia), cantons, cities and private foundations. Furthermore, renowned
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art schools, a diversity of art institutions (from artist run spaces and Kunsthallen to big international museums), a robust art market, international art fairs and galleries, all contribute to the Swiss art world, whose reach extends internationally. In the field of Visual Arts, Pro Helvetia supports emerging artists by facilitating the launch of a professional career in the arts at a national or international level. In collaboration with selected partner institutions, the Swiss Arts Council offers residencies, enables opportunities for exhibitions, and grants financial support for
networking. Time in art school is a secure and perhaps cosy place. Pro Helvetia helps them to make their first steps afterwards and closely follows the professional trajectories of Swiss artists. Jelena believes that art schools are important in an artist’s development and it’s good to have been through this structured process of initiation into the field. At the same time, there are some autodidacts who became great artists - it’s most certainly not impossible to make it without a degree. But art schools can provide a rich ground for learning the basics, cultivating a network of peers,
