Institute New Switzerland – INES: Co-creative Thesis and Question Laboratory for Participatory Survey Support
INES is the post-migrant think & act tank in Switzerland.
INES connects people, analyses social developments and creates knowledge and visions for a just and sustainable democracy in which everyone has a voice.
The background to this project is the development of a survey by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Gender Studies (IZFG) at the University of Bern. The study was commissioned by Pro Helvetia and the Club school centre for Social Research (CSR). It examines structural barriers and opportunities for participation in the cultural sector. The personal survey is aimed at people who work in the arts and culture sector and bring different perspectives to the table. It aims to visualise the obstacles and opportunities that cultural professionals experience in their day-to-day work and to identify ways to achieve greater equality of opportunity.
INES accompanies the survey with a participatory process. This process is not purely a matter of data collection but rather an exchange between different experiences, positions and institutional logics. The perspectives of those affected are actively incorporated into the evaluation and the development of recommendations for action.
A central element of the accompanying process is the «Thesis and Questions Lab». On 23 March 2026, INES hosts around 30 artists and cultural practitioners at the Migros Museum for a half-day workshop, supported by Migros Culture Percentage m2act. The participants examine the research theses and develop specific questions for the survey together. This workshop creates a protected space, strengthens artistic voices and makes the survey more accessible and effective. The results will be evaluated, published and subsequently form the basis for recommendations aimed at the cultural sector.
Not only will this make the insights from the survey easier to understand and utilise, it will also enable artists and cultural professionals to contribute their knowledge directly and strengthen their voices.
The project invites artists and cultural professionals to contribute their experience and jointly work towards fair employment conditions. This process is based on clear fees, open communication and barrier-free access. Participants actively shape content, thus strengthening their own perspectives. The project promotes sustainable structures because it directly translates practical knowledge into recommendations for institutions and funding bodies, thereby initiating lasting change in the cultural sector.
Involved persons
Lisa Pedicino – INES Co-Managing Director
Sunčana Laketa – INES project management
Andrea Zimmermann – IZfG Research Team Leader
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Published 25.03.26