When we started organising events in Switzerland more than 20 years ago, the audience was different. People came primarily because they missed the language, the music, and the feeling of home. Today the audience is far more diverse — and honestly, it is wonderful for me to see.
At our events I now meet different generations: people who have only just arrived in Switzerland; those who have lived here for decades; young people who were born here but want to stay connected to their origins; families who bring their children to hear our language and get to know the culture through music, film, and theatre.
I notice that the audience today chooses much more carefully.
It is no longer enough for something to simply be "ours" — people want quality, a good atmosphere, an organisation they trust.
I think that is a good change. It pushes us to be better.
That is why today, when I choose the programme, I do not think only about what is popular at the moment, but also about what has value and what can stay in people's memory.
I am especially glad when I see a younger audience, children at concerts, young people at plays. These are generations who may be growing up between two languages and two cultures, but who still want to stay connected to their roots.
That is why I can say with pride that the HELSE audience today is diverse, nurtured, of high quality and, above all, it represents a community.
— Evica
Our stories
Why people from the Balkans leave so often, yet find it so hard to stop thinking about it
Evica Marković1 October 2026When you have lived away from the country you came from for a long time, your relationship with it becomes more complicated than you imagined at the start. Distance sometimes sharpens the view and sometimes clouds it with nostalgia…
Read moreEleven days when Zurich lives through film
Evica Marković23 September 2026Every autumn the area around Sechseläutenplatz changes almost overnight. Festival signs appear, queues form in front of the cinemas, around town you hear more and more conversations about films nobody has had the chance to see yet, and people who might otherwise never meet end up in the same auditorium because they picked the same title from the programme…
Read moreWhen design steps out onto the streets of Zurich
Evica Marković17 September 2026There are things we use every day and almost never think about. The chair we sit on, the glass we drink water from, the sign at the stop that tells us where to go, the light in a restaurant that keeps us there longer than we planned, or a poster on the street that makes us stop…
Read more
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
HELSE is a Swiss cultural association that fosters exchange between Switzerland and Serbia. Through theatre, film, music, stand-up and children's workshops we build cultural bridges — alive, inspiring and open to everyone.
Our programme is diverse: theatre performances, film screenings, stand-up comedy, concerts, readings, seminars and children's workshops.
Events run year-round — the current schedule lives in the Events section.
Tickets are sold online via each event's page and, for some programmes, at the door before the show. HELSE members receive discounts on selected events.
Membership is open to anyone who wants to support the association. The annual fee is CHF 70, with reduced rates for students and pensioners.
Sign up via the Membership page — for any additional questions, write to info@helse.ch.