Switzerland does not run its own cultural centre in Berlin, it is nevertheless the country with the largest number of artists living there. This might explain why the Swiss Embassy is the only foreign representation to offer its scholarship holding artists a guided tour through the cultural life of Berlin. Since 2002 the Embassy invites twice a year to « Backstage Berlin », a two-day visiting programme which allows Swiss artists to get in contact with Berlin artists and cultural institutions and to exchange on artistic themes.

 

German-speaking Switzerland’s bonds with Berlin have always been strong – but by now the French-speaking cantons have taken large interest in the German capital as well: They have more apartments for artist scholars in Berlin than they have in Paris.

 

For Catherine Scharf Chevalley, cultural attachée of the Swiss Embassy, this kind of cultural support also contributes to the radiation of her country. In her opinion Berlin’s success especially lies in its central and therefore ideal geographic position since the opening of Eastern Europe.

Source: Swissinfo, July 27^th 2007