Confederation

The Swiss federal government ensures that its own cultural property receives the necessary protection. It also provides support for the cantons, helping them to coordinate and implement the measures that have been planned. In particular the Confederation issues directives and guidelines for specialised training, and itself sees to the training of a cultural property protection management team. The federal government also provides subsidies for precautionary measures, to ensure the protection of cultural property including buildings and other types of property of national or regional importance. The competent authority in this case is the section in charge of the protection of cultural property within the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP).

The Federal Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property serves as an advisory body to the Confederation. The Committee has a maximum membership of 15 persons.

Cantons

Implementation is the responsibility of the cantons in all cases where responsibility does not lie directly with the Confederation. They are expected to contribute financially to the protection of cultural property and to take the following measures:

• Create the necessary legislative framework at the cantonal level
• Designate an office responsible for the protection of cultural property
• Draw up an inventory of cultural property
• Create documentation for the safeguarding of cultural property
• Determine what form of organisation is required for the protection of cultural
• property at the local level
• Train the staff responsible for the protection of cultural property
• Plan the building of shelters for the protection of cultural property.

Municipalities

• Building of shelters to protect cultural property
• Arranging for suitable staff
• Organising refresher courses for staff involved in the protection of cultural property
• Implementation of the planned measures with due notification.