Zurich simply has everything: In addition to around 60 museums and more than 100 galleries, there is a lake with countless bathing opportunities, a treasure trove of culture for curious city explorers and around 2,000 restaurants. Zurich's neighbourhoods are sometimes hip, sometimes multicultural, sometimes industrial, sometimes historic — in any case, something you want to discover.

World-leading institutions such as the Zurich Kunsthaus are in dialog with a diverse gallery scene that includes not only internationally established players but also many young and innovative galleries. The offer is rounded off by a fascinating and lively underground scene with its creative off spaces. In this density and diversity — measured against the size of the city — there is hardly any other European metropolis.

The particular focus is on the area around Heimplatz, the location of the Zurich Kunsthaus. International art history was made here more than 100 years ago, when Hugo Ball and Hans Arp’s group of artists founded the Cabaret Voltaire in the heart of Niederdorf, just a stone's throw away. The house is considered the birthplace of the Dadaist art movement, which conquered the whole world from Zurich. To this day, Zurich Kunsthaus has lost none of its charisma — because, once again, new departures abound on Heimplatz.

Charlotte von Stotzingen is very familiar with the trends and developments of the Zurich art scene. As director of the Zurich Art Weekend she provides an international platform for the art scene of Switzerland's largest city every year. For three days, private and public art institutions, important galleries and trendy lesser-known spaces open their doors together.

One week before Art Basel opens its doors, Zurich becomes a hotspot for the international art scene for a whole weekend at the Zurich Art Weekend. Aside from leading private and public institutions, almost all galleries and project spaces also participate to present their work to the public. The programme is rounded off by a diverse supporting programme consisting of artist talks, art walks and special guided tours, as well as symposia and panel discussions.

Even Charlotte von Stotzingen states: For a long time, the trendy Zurich West district with its industrial past was considered a hotspot of the art scene. But more and more galleries once again want to be close to the old town and the Zurich Kunsthaus. Several recent openings bear witness to this trend: for example, the Presenhuber Gallery, which has been operating a location near the museum since the beginning of 2020. The same goes for the Zurich branch of the renowned Lévy-Gorvy with Rumbler gallery. Hauser & Wirth have also recently opened two locations on Rämistrasse — a bookshop and a showroom.

But in addition to the many newcomers, there are also gallery owners who have long pitched their tents near Zurich Kunsthaus. One of them is Victor Gisler, founder of the Mai 36 gallery. Gisler's gallery has been located on Rämistrasse since 1996, just a few minutes' walk from the Kunsthaus. Today, Mai 36 is one of the most important galleries in Switzerland. Victor Gisler was a member of the Art Basel Committee for 12 years and also a founding member of the Zurich Art Weekend in 2018.

Mai 36 specialises in contemporary art and represents internationally renowned artists as well as emerging talent. The programme includes artists with whom the gallery has been working since the late 1980s, such as John Baldessari, Stephan Balkenhol, Pia Fries, Matt Mullican, Thomas Ruff, Christoph Rütimann and Lawrence Weiner. Mai 36 also works closely with the legacies of General Idea, Luigi Ghirri, Robert Mapplethorpe, Paul Thek and Rémy Zaugg. The gallery is known for its long-standing and consistent collaboration with the artists it represents.

There is undoubtedly a feeling of new departures around Kunsthaus Zürich. And with good reason: in autumn 2021, the Kunsthaus extension by British architect David Chipperfield will open. This will make Kunsthaus Zürich the largest art museum in Switzerland. Working in conjunction with the existing building, the cube-like structure creates an imposing ensemble and provides additional exhibition space for the Kunsthaus's world-class collection.

Kunsthaus Zürich houses one of the largest art collections in Switzerland. It is known for its permanent collections as well as internationally acclaimed temporary exhibitions. In addition to works of old masters, you can admire significant paintings by Picasso, Monet and Chagall as well as by numerous contemporary artists such as Fischli/Weiss or Sylvie Fleury. The Kunsthaus also houses the most extensive collection of works by the renowned Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti, who is best known for his sculptures.

There is also plenty of art to admire outside the museum: Since 1949, the Gates of Hell by Auguste Rodin has been a permanent fixture in front of the entrance. The eight-ton bronze sculpture depicts a vision of the afterlife, inspired by Dante's Inferno of the “Divina Commedia”. This sculpture has recently been complemented by a contemporary work that only truly reveals itself as night falls: Entitled “Tastende Lichter” (Tactile Lights), the light and video installation by Swiss multimedia artist Pipilotti Rist projects coloured dots of light onto the surrounding buildings and surfaces during the evening hours.

But when the lights of Pipilotti Rist's installation go on in the evening and the galleries and museums close their doors, another cultural institution right next to the Kunsthaus really comes to life: the Schauspielhaus Zürich.

The Schauspielhaus Zürich on Heimplatz is one of the most renowned theatres in the German-speaking world. The theatre in the “Pfauen” house opened in 1901 has been delighting audiences with critical and politically relevant plays ever since. Some of Bertolt Brecht’s most important plays celebrated their world premiere here and numerous dramas by Swiss dramatists Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt were premiered at the “Pfauen”. Since 2000, Zurich’s Schauspielhaus ensemble has also been performing on stages in the Schiffbau building around three kilometres away. Benjamin von Blomberg and Nicolas Steman took over as artistic directors of the Schauspielhaus in time for the 2019/2020 season. The Schauspielhaus is also an exciting destination for international guests: All performances are surtitled in English.