m2act Call for Projects 2026: Sharing is Caring
The most important key points
Topic / section
Region
Entry / entry deadline
15.01.2026 - 02.03.2026
Funding type
Financial support of CHF 150'000 divided between 5 to 8 projects, support and networking
Migros Culture Percentage m2act is looking for projects that apply, develop, test and share existing knowledge, established practices and new tools for fair practice and sustainable structures in Swiss art and culture. Good practices should not remain hidden. They need to be disseminated across artistic scenes to create a closely networked and strengthened cultural landscape. In its 2026 call for projects, m2act invites cultural institutions, festivals, initiatives, production offices, companies, bands, collectives, associations and other permanent structures to submit their creative and innovative ideas – now in all the aforementioned artistic disciplines. Detailed information about the call for projects can be found in the information sheet.
Requirements
- The project
- is developed and realised co-creatively,
- is fair and sustainable in practice,
- is impact-orientated,
- is implemented professionally,
- is developed and realised in Switzerland.
- The persons primarily responsible live in Switzerland.
- The project has recognisable added value for many players in the cultural landscape.
- The project is planned and implemented by a team. If there is a management function, it supports the project.
- The planning and production costs are included in the budget.
- The persons responsible take part in all important stages of the selection process (at least two to three individuals per project).
- All required documents are submitted on time.
- The project team is prepared to share selected findings and experiences with others on the Migros Culture Percentage m2act website in the spirit of an accessible knowledge transfer.
What we support
The programme supports professional cultural practitioners who are developing or have already developed promising approaches and processes for specific tools or methods. The good practices must be applied within the project. They must be shared and jointly tested and improved with at least one other group, organisation or institution.
«Good Practices» are proven approaches, processes, methods and tools that contribute to a fairer and more sustainable cultural landscape. These can include databases, digital platforms, digital software, checklists, guidelines, workshops, rituals, dialogue formats, process support with experts, role plays, agreements and many other formats that contribute to greater fairness and sustainability in the cultural landscape. Inspiration and support can be found within the m2act-Toolbox or in the projects already supported.
- Applications from individuals
- Applications for contributions to artistic productions
- Fundraising requests
- Already completed projects
- Services that must be provided under subsidy agreements
- Infrastructure or operating costs
- Projects from schools, universities of applied sciences and arts or universities
- Projects that do not fit within the discplines listed above
- Commercial projects
- Non-professional projects
- Private and charity events
Processes
- Start of call for projects: 15 January 2026
- Closing date: 02 March 2026, 23:59 pm
- Discussions of the project online: 15 April 2026 or 16 April 2026
- Initial interviews: Between 12 May 2026 and 19 May 2026
- Second talks: mid-June 2026
- Start of implementation: summer 2026
Funding type
- Flat fee of CHF 1'500 for work carried out between the first and second meeting, i.e., finalising the project description, schedule and budget.
- Individual grants. The total m2act funding volume amounts to CHF 150'000. Between 5 and 8 projects will be funded.
- Support from the m2act team in the form of exchange meetings
- Participation at network meeting Double x m2act on October 31, 2026
Important links
Contact
E-Mail: m2act@mgb.ch
Open Q&A
On Tuesday, 27 January 2026 and Tuesday, 24 February 2026, the m2act team will answer questions about the call for projects and the funding process from 4 to 5 pm.
The Migros Culture Percentage offers additional support programs for cultural creators. You can find an overview here.
Do you have questions or need assistance? The Culture Advisory Service is happy to help you.
FAQ – Questions and answers
There is no maximum amount for grants. The entire funding volume is distributed in a needs-oriented manner across 5 to 8 projects.
No, m2act can also finance projects in full.
No, applicants are free to choose their own methods and tools.
No, the applicants are free to choose external experts.
People, networks, associations who have concrete, relevant expertise and work with the applicants on their challenge. They cannot be existing team members or persons already employed in another function.
We provide funding to overcome a specific challenge. This can be a stage of an existing project or a wholly new process.
A partnership between actors in the arts and in culture and experts from other areas of society, carried out on an equal footing. See m2act glossary.
Yes, if the project involves additional work for permanent employees, these working hours should be budgeted.
Applicants document their process in a way that is suitable for further internal processing and, with the support of m2act, communicates experiences, lessons learnt etc. to many people in the the cultural landscape.
Good Practice
Examples can be found in the m2act toolbox on the website, such as the FemaleAct Calculator, Disrupting Harm in Dance, Tatenbank, and PERMA-CULTURE.
If the project is realistically planned and the goals of the call can be achieved within the funding year, projects where the Good Practice is not yet fully developed are also possible.
The involvement in the application process does not need to be equal. An organization can submit the application on its own. However, it is important to discuss the collaboration setup with the other organization in advance.
Project Orientation
The size of the organization does not matter. The application should be submitted by the organization that possesses a Good Practice and wishes to share its knowledge with others.
No.
Any external experts must be listed as involved persons in the application, and the collaboration setup must be described. If the expert will only be sought at a later stage, this must be justified in the application.
Any external experts must be listed as involved persons in the application, and the collaboration setup must be described. If the expert will only be sought at a later stage, this must be justified in the application.
Yes, it is possible, provided they are for two different projects.
The size of the project is not decisive. The focus is on co-creation and knowledge transfer between different organizations.
Application and Funding Process
The submission deadline is March 2 at 11:59 PM. Afterward, a formal review takes place, followed by a pre-selection by an advisory panel that selects 10–12 projects. On April 15 and 16, online interviews will be held with these applicants. Subsequently, 5–8 projects will be chosen for funding. Initial and follow-up discussions with the selected projects will take place in May and June to define implementation details and funding amounts. Implementation begins in summer 2026, and a final discussion will take place a year later.
Yes, in principle, as the funding programs differ. For example, it is possible to submit an artistic project to the regional Migros Culture Percentage and a separate structural project to m2act.
Timeline
We support specific challenges. This can be a phase of an existing project or a new process.
Yes, this is possible. In this case, it is important to describe in the application where the project currently stands and which phase will be implemented during the m2act funding period.
An overview of the planned steps is required. Describe when, where, and with whom these steps will take place.
It is possible to start the project later, but it should end in summer 2027.
Budget
There is no maximum funding amount. The total funding volume for the call is CHF 150,000 and will be distributed based on needs across 5–8 projects.
No, m2act can fully fund projects.
Yes. In this case, it is important to specify which part of the project will be supported by m2act to ensure implementation.
Yes, if permanent employees have additional workload as part of the project, these working hours should be included in the budget.
Yes, all working hours of internal and external team members involved in the project should be included in the budget. Recommended fees for cultural workers can be found at Suisseculture.
m2act Principles
No, applicants are free to choose their methods and tools.
It is a formal criterion that the project is developed and implemented in Switzerland and that the persons primarily responsible for the project are also based in Switzerland.
Yes. See the information sheet, section "What conditions must a project fulfill to be considered?"
Equal collaboration between performing arts practitioners and experts from other societal fields. See the m2act glossary. Co-creation does not need to be interdisciplinary. However, collaboration with another organization or group is essential. This group can come from the same or a different field, as well as from other areas such as science, business, politics, social work, etc. The key aspect is knowledge transfer.
It should involve a collaborative and active exchange of knowledge and insights between two or more organizations, which can take various forms. A written record of internal findings alone does not qualify as knowledge transfer.
