Mission Statement
To establish a centre of competence for art in the context of conflict mediation and peace building in Switzerland.
To initiate art projects in affected regions in the aftermath of war; in the process of reconstruction and democratisation, and to supplement established humanitarian work with art.
To conduct such art projects together with local partner organisations, and to jointly document and evaluate them.
To support ongoing diplomatic peace-building mediation by independent national or private institutions with specific artistic initiatives at various levels of society.
To conduct research and analyse the existing examples and methods of art within the context of conflict mediation and peace building and to apply this research to new initiatives.
To network between individual initiatives for art in the context of conflict mediation and peace building and to encourage an exchange of experiences.
To publicly present initiatives of art in peace building outside of conflict areas and foster dialogue.
Point of departure
Engaging in art is a basic human need. Humanitarian support in the aftermath of conflicts should provide time and space for art.
Art offers a specific way of relating to the world. It invites us to let go of utilitarian calculations, sharpen our perception and see the supposedly known in a new way. Accordingly, it creates new perspectives for conflict resolution.
Art allows us to communicate experiences that are difficult to put into words and to bring together people of very different cultural backgrounds. Creating a space beyond everyday concerns, art invites us to experiment with new ways of acting. Artworks stimulate discussions and exchange of opinions between conflicting parties.
Through art, disregarded and economically deprived people can assert their dignity and gain a hearing and personal recognition. In that, art is similar to religion, but it can intervene in situations where religion is politically instrumentalized.
In order for art to develop this potential, it must not be subordinated to any fixed goals or purposes – no matter how good the intentions might be. It needs a space of trust in which to play, without guaranteed outcomes or proven effects.
The above applies to quality artistic work in all forms, media and traditions (visual, music, dance, drama, film, literature, etc.).
Guiding principles
The foundation is non-profit. Its purpose is to provide help and opportunities for self-help: for its sponsors and partners it wants to create the possibility for meaningful commitment. For those who are directly exposed to violence, it wants to enable experiences and encounters that will give them support in overcoming this violence.
In its work and cooperation with other organisations, the foundation subscribes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The foundation has no political affiliations.
The foundation calls upon art of quality in different media and from different places of origin, and provides it with the necessary space.
With its projects, the foundation seeks to create lasting effects by fostering cooperation between artists based in conflict areas and artists from other countries or regions.
The foundation works together with highly qualified public and private institutions in the field of international peace building and endeavours to supplement their established practices and methods with contributions from the arts. The foundation makes its sponsorship transparent. It ensures that its donors give their support free of political obligations and without imposing conditions on the artistic work.
The Board of Trustees determines the guidelines and priorities of the foundation’s work and supervises the work of the office. It ensures the financial stability of the foundation, determines its structure and is responsible for its annual reports and financial statements. The Board of Trustees elects the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the foundation and works on an honorary basis.
The Presidium consists of two people, both are members of the foundation’s Board of Trustees and are elected by it. They act as representatives of the foundation. The president manages the foundation’s board and represents it officially. The Vice Presidency is operational.
The staff conducts the operational work on behalf of the board. The staff is responsible for fundraising, develops the projects of the foundation efficiently and in correspondence to the financial means and is responsible for the annual narrative and financial reports to the Swiss Federal Supervisory Board of Foundations.
Office hours:
Monday 9–12 h
Tuesday 14–17 h
Wednesday 9–17 h
The advisory board is composed of specialists in various fields of art and art education, humanitarian work, diplomacy and mediation, as well as representatives of civil society.
The advisory board is consulted as needed for the orientation of the foundation in terms of content and the planning of its projects. It contributes to the networking of the foundation and works on an honorary basis.
Mauro Abbühl
Former co-Director, artlink – Cultural Cooperation, Bern
Günther Bächler
Special Representative for the South Caucasus of the OSCE
Daniel Baumann
Director of the Kunsthalle Zürich
Christine Beerli
Vice President of the ICRC, President of the Association Solothurner Filmtage
Franziska Burkhardt
Director of the culture department of the city of Bern
Catherine David
Artistic Director of Documenta 10, Curator, Paris
Maaike Engelen
Child and Adolescent Psychoanalyst, London
Maren Haartje
Activities in Feminist Education, Peace Research and Security Policy. Programme Managment for FriedensFrauen worlwide.
Ursula König
Independent Mediator and Consultant for Conflict Transformation
Sandro Lunin
Artistic Director of the Kaserne Basel
Thomas D. Meier
Dean of the Zurich University of the Arts
Nicole Müller
Writer and Director of Communications
Danielle Nanchen
Section Head, Federal Department of Culture, Switzerland
Meret Schlegel
Dancer and Choreographer, Swiss Dance Award 2015, Zurich
Dieter Senghaas
Professor for Peace Research, University of Bremen
Alice Thomann
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Beirut
Gisela Ullmann
Supervisor and Coach in Organisations, Zug
…and others.
artasfoundation is an operating foundation that is financed by grants and private contributions and that initiates its own projects. It is not an awarding foundation and does not process unsollicited applications for support from other parties.
artasfoundation makes its project partners and sponsorship transparent. It ensures that its donors give their support free of political obligations and without imposing conditions on the artistic work.
Audit
artasfoundation is governed by the Swiss Federal Supervisory Board of Foundations.
Financial audit
Würth Treuhand AG, Norastrasse 7, CH-8040 Zürich
Standards for financial reporting
The administration of finances meets the criteria of the Swiss GAAP RPC/FER21.
Charitable status
artasfoundation is recognised by the tax administration of the canton Zürich as a charitable trust.
artasfoundation is an operating foundation that is financed by grants and private contributions and that initiates its own projects. It is not an awarding foundation and does not process unsollicited applications for support from other parties.
artasfoundation makes its project partners and sponsorship transparent. It ensures that its donors give their support free of political obligations and without imposing conditions on the artistic work.
Audit
artasfoundation is governed by the Swiss Federal Supervisory Board of Foundations.
Financial audit
Würth Treuhand AG, Norastrasse 7, CH-8040 Zürich
Standards for financial reporting
The administration of finances meets the criteria of the Swiss GAAP RPC/FER21.
Charitable status
artasfoundation is recognised by the tax administration of the canton Zürich as a charitable trust.