The Canton of Bern can provide financial support for events with economic significance and national appeal. There is no legal entitlement to grants from the Canton. Under the Tourism Development Act, the following can be supported:
- Setting up events that recur in the canton, over a maximum period of three years.
- Contingency planning to ensure the event goes ahead if the unexpected happens.
- Applications for major events such as European and World Championships that take place at different venues.
- A recurring event if it is one that is significant and established and has a major international advertising impact.
What don’t we support?
- Events that are solely of regional or cantonal importance
- Events that already fall within the domain of the destinations
- Events with eligible costs of less than CHF 100,000
- Prize money and performance fees
How to submit a project
Step1
Does the event you are planning make a significant contribution to value creation or raise the profile of the location? Use the assessment criteria in the table below as a guide.
| Aspect | Assessment criteria | (Sport) events | Tourism/ conferences |
| Positioning and support |
Integrates into the destination’s communication concept | X | X |
| Target audiences align with the destination’s strategy | X | X | |
| Financial support from the destination and/or local commune | X | X | |
| Support from national partners (e.g. sports association) | X | ||
| At least one nationally known sponsor | X | ||
| Macroeconomic aspects | Does not compete with existing event in the Canton of Bern | X | X |
| Takes place across several consecutive days | X | X | |
| +20% overnight stays on event days or over 2000 visitors | X | X | |
| Timing of event (contribution to capacity utilization) | X | X | |
| Organization and appeal | Professional organization incl. business plan | X | X |
| Security and environmental concept | X | X | |
| Professional public relations, including communications planning | X | X | |
| Other relevant expenditure for proposals | (X) | X |
Step2
Include the following with your application:
- Project description (business plan for first-time organizers)
- Event budget
- Audited annual financial statement incl. balance sheet
- Project schedule
- Full list of other funding applications and promised contributions
- Details of value creation and profiling of location
- Security concept
- Environmental concept
- Communication concept
- Sponsorship concept
- Event program
Step3
Please note that event grants should be applied for at as early a stage as possible (at least 30 days before the event takes place). No applications will be accepted after the end of the event.
Step4
Submit your application and all accompanying documentation by mail.