FAQ

During the pre-selection stage, we need to make sure that applicants comply with the Conditions of Participation and that these individuals could benefit from Sparx funding. The Selection Committee, on the other hand, focuses solely on the idea itself. Anonymizing the information gives all ideas an equal chance. That is why we anonymize the applications for this step.

You do not need to submit any additional documents. If you’d like, you can send us work samples as PDFs, JPGs or links. Please note, however, that these will only be considered during pre-selection. The Selection Committee will only receive the anonymized text from the application form and will make their decisions based solely on that content.

The text in the application form is how we learn about your project. For this reason, it’s important that you include all important information. All projects that are pre-selected will be translated, anonymized, and sent to the multilingual Selection Committee. For this reason, please be sure that you describe your idea in simple, straightforward terms.

If you’re unsure about anything, join one of our Zoom Ins to ask your questions directly.

You need to register yourself as a private individual, then you can fill out the form for your group.

We are looking for ideas with potential, not finished concepts. If that applies to your project, then you are welcome to submit your idea, even if you have already received other funding for it. However, in this case you must specify in the application form where you have obtained funding from and how much funding you have already received.

A final project may be submitted under two conditions:

• 1. It has already been submitted and graded.
• 2. You want to fundamentally alter and advance the idea.

Sparx does not fund ideas that ...

• … discriminate against any individuals
• … were developed within an institutional or commercial framework
• … are currently being developed or evaluated/graded as part of the applicant's studies at a school or university.

We are looking for project ideas from young creatives. If you submit an idea as a group, it has to be your idea and cannot come from a third party or an institution.

During the Studio Days, all groups receive a variety of input and participate in workshops. In order for us to ensure that this content matches the groups’ work, we want to learn more about your interests beforehand.

No. Please get in touch with us so we can find the right solution for you.

Sure, that’s not a problem. Between two and four members of every group must participate in the Studio period and Studio Days/Weekends. The other people are still part of the group, but they do not have any obligations and also will not receive any funding.

The same people from the group must participate in the Studio Days.

Yes, but please let us know if your project changes completely before the start of the Studio period.

You can find more information about Sparx Studio here.

To take part in Sparx Studio, you need an address and a bank account in Switzerland at the time of entry up to and including the end of the studio period.
Swiss citizenship is not required.

Two-thirds of your group must be between the ages of 18 and 28. If some members are older or younger, you can still submit your idea. However, only people who are between the ages of 18 and 28 at the time of submission are eligible to receive funding and participate in the Sparx Studio period.

Unfortunately, you cannot submit an idea as a single individual; only groups of two or more can participate in the Sparx Studio period.

There is no upper limit on group size. However, a maximum of four people from a group can take part in the studio period.

No. Sparx is intended for up-and-coming creatives and individuals between the ages of 18 and 28 who want to work in the cultural sector. It can also be your first individual project.

Individuals who have been previously funded through Sparx Studio cannot directly reapply to CFI but they can be extended team members.
People who have not been funded (but have entered) can always submit new ideas.

You can still participate in Sparx Studio even if you turn 29 during this time. What matters that you are still 28 when you submit your application and that you were born in the appropriate year.