The new Pro Helvetia Director is Philippe Bischof
Philippe Bischof will succeed Andrew Holland as Director of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. He is currently Head of the Culture Division in the Presidential Department of Basel-Stadt.
The Board of Trustees of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia unanimously elected Philippe Bischof as the new Director yesterday evening. He will take up his post on November 1, 2017. Until then, Sabina Schwarzenbach will manage the foundation on an interim basis.
The application process began at the start of November 2016, was conducted by an external management selection office and managed by a search committee. A total of 104 applications were received.
Born in Basel in 1967, Philippe Bischof began his career as an assistant director at Theater Basel. This was followed by positions as artistic director at the Theater Göttingen and as a freelance director and dramaturge in French-speaking Switzerland, France, Germany, Sweden and Iceland. At the same time, he completed a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Cultural Management at the University of Basel.
From 2008 to 2011, he built up the Südpol cultural center in Lucerne as managing director and artistic director. Since 2011, Philippe Bischof has been Head of the Department of Culture at the Basel-Stadt Presidential Department. He has also been President of the Conference of Cantonal Cultural Officers since January 2017.
