Pro Helvetia is Switzerland’s Arts Council and last year it doled out CHF 42 million to artists and their projects. As an artist, says Philippe Bischof, director of Pro Helvetia, “it’s easier to survive in Switzerland than in many, many other countries.” He tells Tanya König about his organization’s selection process, its international reach, and why it is now funding gaming.
Why Montreux Jazz Festival launched its own media company
The Montreux Jazz Festival has just launched a media venture that will include video, podcasts, and even vinyl records, among other things. We speak to Nicolas Bonard, CEO of the new subsidiary, to find out how they are exploring a new stream of revenue and how they’ll try to monetize their rich archive.
The Verbier Art Summit goes global
Anneliek Sijbrandij founded the Verbier Art Summit four years ago during a sabbatical from her job as tax lawyer. Now the platform has expanded to Brazil, with the U.S. and China next in line. The aim is to drive change and foster dialogue between curators, artists and the public. Sijbrandij also tells Tanya König why she doesn’t engage galleries or auction houses as sponsors.
Casey Neistat: Social media is where you’re relevant today, nobody tomorrow
With over 11 million subscribers on YouTube, Casey Neistat is an online celebrity. The filmmaker and content creator spoke at the Swiss Innovation Forum in Basel yesterday on how he built his online business. Tanya König asked him about the growing influencer business and when he turns down lucrative deals.
In vino veritas: the truth about investing in fine wine
This month, two auction houses—Christie’s and Dobiaschofsky—had total wine sales in the millions, and a new “wine bank” just opened in Switzerland, further proof that fine wine is increasingly becoming a sought-after alternative investment. Tanya König finds out why, despite its volatility, some investors are looking to wine to diversify their portfolios.
Ai Weiwei: “Selling art is a very strange business”
“The value of art is very hard to determine” and it can’t be rationalized, says Ai Weiwei, the Chinese artist and activist, who calls himself “a top businessman.” He discusses when he refuses to sell an artwork, the price of his activism, and why the U.S.-China trade war won’t end up as just a trade war.
Why female representation in politics and business matters
Fierce, fabulous and female. Artist Daniel Eisenhut is at the Kunst Zurich art fair exhibiting a portrait series that features 100 female leaders in business, politics and culture. With the most recent Swiss elections putting record numbers of women in parliament, some of the women portrayed by Eisenhut tell us why female representation matters.
Meet the first Swiss Barbie “role model”
Mattel has dedicated a @Barbie in the likeness of Swiss mountaineer and helicopter pilot @Evelyne Binsack. As new @Disney “Frozen 2” dolls hit the shelves just in time for Christmas, will Barbie keep up with the competition?
