Culture for Democracy Project (CFD)
Launched in October 2021, the Culture for Democracy (CfD) project represents Switzerland’s first comprehensive and long-term initiative in the field of arts and culture in Serbia. Initiated and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the project aims to promote social inclusion and tolerance through arts and culture, advance democratic values, strengthen intercultural dialogue, and advocate for the rights of marginalized and vulnerable communities. The first phase of the CfD project was implemented by Hartefakt from 2021 to 2025, during which 89 projects were supported with a total of CHF 1,021,185. The second phase of the CfD project will be implemented from 2025 to 2028.
The aim of the CfD project is to support the independent cultural sector in contributing to greater social cohesion and tolerance at the local level. In addition to artistic production, the project places particular emphasis on exchange, cooperation, and learning as key values underpinning its work. The CfD project focuses on independent cultural actors at the local level, taking into account the evident lack of support they face.
The expected results of the CfD project during the second phase of implementation are:
- Enhanced organizational capacities and resilience of cultural and artistic actors and organizations, enabling their continued development and more effective achievement of their goals.
- Contemporary artistic practices by individual cultural and artistic actors that foster critical thinking, social dialogue, and greater public awareness of issues of direct relevance to local communities.
