In the past, many Swiss artists decided to move abroad for better economic opportunities. Some professions, such as in architecture, indeed offered promising prospects outside Switzerland, while in the fields of medicine, finance and watch-making, Switzerland imported foreign experts. The neutral status of Switzerland has attracted many artists from all over the world. In times of war, Switzerland provided political asylum for many artists. Many Italian, Austrian and German writers found refuge in Switzerland during the Fascism of the 1930s and 40s, including Herman Hesse, Thomas Mann, Stefan George and Ignazio Silone.

The traditions of folk art are kept alive in many organisations throughout Switzerland. Folk art in the country is best represented by its poetry, music and dance, embroidery and wood carving. Yodeling is also stereotypical of Switzerland. However, it is limited only to some of the mountain regions and not so widely spread as assumed. The accordion bears the same stigma; sometimes misunderstood as a Swiss musical instrument. However, the alphorn, or alpenhorn, is a traditional symbol of Swiss music, used mainly in mountainous areas and said to be the perfect form of a wind instrument. The types of melodies of Swiss folk music vary in different regions. In pastoral environments, melodies are wide ranging and floating. In the southern and inner Alps, the music represents more of a song, of limited range. Some of the traditional themes in the songs speak of the homeland and love, others are more pastoral and patriotic, as well as some dedicated to hunting. The Swiss are generally not considered a musically inclined nation. However, in the 20th Century, the country produced a number of internationally recognised composers, such as Othmar Schoeck, Frank Martin and Arthur Honegger. The city of Lucerne hosts festivals throughout the year, including the Lucerne Festival for Classical music. However the best-known annual festival is the Montreux Jazz Festival, held on the Lake Geneva shoreline.