Featured Events in Geneva in March, 2025 (May Updated)

Contributing to a museum's development takes many forms and motivations, for example by enriching its collections with one or more works, or by financially supporting its activities. And why choose to make a donation? To contribute to the community's heritage, which will be passed on to future generations, because of their attachment to the institution, or in memory of a loved one to whom the object once belonged. Over the decades, the collections at Musée Ariana have been shaped by the generosity of donors and the loyalty of many patrons. This exhibition is divided into twelve sections, highlighting some of the stories and tales of donations that have shaped the majority of our collections. To mark the occasion, a new module has been inaugurated in the Accumulation room; its presentation reveals the different ways in which the museum's collections have been enriched, in line with its acquisition policy.

A translucent composition obtained by assembling glass and lead, stained glass transfigures the material and subjects depicted. It takes over the space, inviting the public into an atmosphere as shimmering as it is colorful. Until now, only a few pieces have been displayed in the architecture of Musée Ariana and the Musée d'art et d'histoire. The "Post Tenebras Lux" exhibition offers access to over 200 little-known works, extracted for the occasion from Geneva's municipal reserves. "After the darkness, the light": let yourself be dazzled by sparkling art, presented in the sumptuous setting of the Ariana. With a collection of stained glass dating from the 1140s to 2007, Musée Ariana boasts a remarkable range of works, mainly from Switzerland and neighbouring regions. The collection is distinguished by its 370 figurative pieces, like so many stories to be discovered. In partnership with the Vitrocentre Romont (Fribourg) and the University of Geneva, the 5th part of the "L'Ariana sorti de ses réserves" series unveils a selection of this exceptional heritage. In addition to an in-depth study of the City of Geneva's stained-glass windows, this project has enabled numerous restorations to be carried out and the inventory of this unique collection to be enriched, which is now available online. This inventory, accompanied by the publication of an exhibition catalog, will serve as an essential benchmark for future generations.

The Natural History Museum (MHN) and the Higher School of Comics and Illustration (ESBDI) are partnering with the Cité Library to offer a combined scientific and artistic perspective on local biodiversity issues. Fifteen selected animal species and fifteen original stories imagined and drawn by first-year students will interact with the Museum's scientific issues, such as the causes of biodiversity loss, habitat loss, and human-induced changes to natural spaces.

Unusual Dialogues brings together different collections through which disciplines interact, connect, and thus reveal often unsuspected correlations. These unexpected connections form small universal stories that contribute to a broader understanding of our world. In 1965, the streets of Geneva were the scene of a curious spectacle: bears, rhinoceroses, and thousands of other animal species were transported in vans during the relocation of the Natural History Museum's collections. Housed in Les Bastions since 1872, the institution then moved to Malagnou. The Geneva Library, whose spaces retain their 19th-century charm, offers an immersion into the Museum's former home.

Musée Ariana 's contemporary collection has evolved considerably in recent years, placing itself increasingly at the crossroads of applied arts, design and contemporary art. This exhibition is conceived as a retrospective of works acquired between 2010 and 2024, often in connection with the numerous contemporary exhibitions organized during this period. It is intended to reflect the scientific team's free, forward-looking approach to the latest developments in Swiss and international ceramics, in order to gain an overview of the development of the artistic scene in this field. This freedom is always conditional on the generosity of a patron, as the museum does not have an acquisition budget.