The main floor (piano nobile) of the Palazzo Trevisan was acquired by the Confederation in 1966 and served as the office of the consulate general until 2002. It was subsequently transformed into an honorary consulate and was used to promote Swiss culture. Over the years, this building has become a true symbol of Switzerland in Venice, offering an ideal space for dialogue with actors from the worlds of art, architecture, culture and cinema active in the lagoon city.
Alongside the city's strong international appeal in the artistic and cultural spheres, in more recent years new activities in the fields of innovation, science and research for sustainability have been added, making this a propitious moment to rethink the role of the Palazzo Trevisan. Managed by the FDFA, the new platform will help promote Switzerland's interests according to the objectives of its Foreign Policy Strategy 2024–27 and the Dispatch on Culture 2025–28. In particular, it will be a meeting place for Swiss and international actors from both the public and private sectors, and will aspire to promote synergies between these entities, capitalising on the inspirational backdrop of Venice.
An FDFA secretariat will be set up to coordinate the platform's activities. Pro Helvetia, in addition to organising its own cultural programme and running the Swiss pavilion during the Venice Biennale, will advise the secretariat on setting priorities in the cultural sphere.
The formalities of cooperation between the FDFA and the various actors involved will be finalised this year. Potential partners include public bodies, research institutes, foundations and institutions, film festivals, galleries and museums. The government of the Canton of Ticino, represented in Venice by Marina Carobbio, cantonal councillor, director of the cantonal Department of Education, Culture and Sport, and president of the forum for Italian in Switzerland (Forum per l’italiano in Svizzera), has already confirmed its interest. In her speech, Ms Carobbio expressed her satisfaction and thanks to the Federal Council: “Thanks to the joint, decisive intervention of the authorities at various levels, it was possible to find a solution to continue promoting the identity of multilingual and multicultural Switzerland in Venice and around the world.”
“With the new set-up for the Palazzo Trevisan, we are strengthening Switzerland's presence in Italy, a country with which we share a culture as well as a multitude of economic, cultural, scientific and social ties,” said Mr Cassis. “In expanding the themes and actors involved, including the Canton of Ticino, we will be able to make even more coherent and effective use of the space.”
For her part, Ms Baume-Schneider said she was “delighted that the Palazzo Trevisan continues to be a fruitful place to collaborate and exchange ideas, thanks to the support of Pro Helvetia and the involvement of new partners.”
Article: Palazzo Trevisan – showcasing Swiss excellence
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