The Swiss Art Awards that were named Federal Art Competition, are recognitions that are awarded by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) in the name of the Confederation.
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History
The Swiss Art awards stem from the oldest & most important measure of support to the Arts of Switzerland. They began in 1898 "as a federal grant for young artists, so as to raise the quality of Swiss Art".
The Competition & Award has been managed by the FOC since it came into existence in 1975.
The grants progressively turned into a competition changing the name to Federal Art Competition in 1994 and Swiss Art Awards since 2014. The Swiss Art Awards competition and show are held during Art Basel since 1994.
Since 2001 three to four Swiss Grand Awards for Art /Prix Meret Oppenheim are presented, out of competition by the federal commission for art (FCA).
Principals
Artists, architects, art and architecture mediators of Swiss origins or based in Switzerland, can submit their application to the FOC. After a first round the FCA, chooses a selection of nominees who can participate in the show & compete for the Awards. Out of these around ten candidates receive an Award for their work with 25'000 Chf.
The Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret Oppenheim on the other hand are awarded by the FCA out of competition, to personalities that have contributed to the study and influence of contemporary Swiss Arts & architecture. These distinctions are endowed with 40'000 Chf each that are to be used to ease the realization of an important project.