(KPL) The government of Switzerland has launched an open public call for the Lao Culture Fund (LCF) which will provide funding opportunities and training for organizations, business or civil society to promote cultural expressions in the Lao PDR under the theme “Lao Culture By And for Lao People”.

“The Lao Culture Fund is open to organizations, businesses or groups related to the creation, production and dissemination of cultural goods that enable large populations to take part in cultural life in Laos,” Mr Christoph Burgener, Director, Swiss Development Agency for Development and Cooperation to Laos, told a press conference in Vientiane on July 30.

The application deadline is August 30, 2019 and more information about the application process is available at: laoculturefund@gmail.com and Tel: +856 20 222 288 00/ 020 588 91 465.

“The LCF will support civil organizations promoting cultural activities through two main approaches, financial grants and training. This fund encourages cultural expression and strengthens cultural identity at local and national level, and enables citizens to increase their role in society. Support for culture also develops social cohesion within civil society and it contributes to the richness and diversity of an already vibrant local life in the Lao PDR,” said Mr Christoph Burgener.

 “SDC has contributed half a million US dollars to creation, promotion and dissemination of Lao culture since 2014 and will continue to do so through our bilateral development programme in the country,” said Mr Christoph Burgener.

Switzerland has a policy that 1% of the overall budget must be spent on the promotion of culture. This policy applies to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s (SDC) Programme budget in the Lao PDR, currently amounted to US$ 16 million.

Switzerland has supported 30 different cultural initiatives throughout the country since 2014, and has contributed over US$ 500,000 for activities, skills training and institutional development.

KPL