Until 1996 the Museum of Art Lucerne was situated in the museum architecture built in 1933 by Armin Meili, which had to make way for Jean Nouvel's project of the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre Lucerne (KKL). For the incorporation of the Museum of Art into the KKL, the city and canton of Lucerne invested CHF 20 million (about 10 % of the overall cost of the KKL). In order even to be able to contemplate the realisation of a museum wing in the KKL, the Anliker Foundation for Art and Culture made an initial CHF 2 million available as a donation. It was incumbent upon Lucerne Art Society to finance the interior decoration of the Museum, which reopened in June 2000. The additional CHF 3.5 million required could be contributed by the start of 2003. The sponsors include private individuals, communities, firms and foundations, principally from Central Switzerland .
On the basis of a four-year contract, from 2004 the Canton of Lucerne has contributed an annual CHF 1.45 million, and the City of Lucerne – apart from making the spaces available – CHF 360,000 to running costs. With an operational budget of over CHF 3 million, this means that the Museum must obtain about 45 % of the annual costs, or raise it from third parties. The members of the Lucerne Art Society and the Lucerne Art Club make major financial base contributions. Donations from foundations chiefly provide for and sponsor work in the field of art education or special projects. Partnerships are entered with individual firms, and additional funds flow are directed towards specific exhibition projects in the sense of classical sponsorship collaborations.
For its partners and sponsors from private circles and business, the Museum of Art Lucerne has worked towards an extensive and attractive range of return services. Doris Bucher is happy to provide information (doris.bucher@kunstmuseumluzern.ch).
List of sponsors of the Museum of Art Lucerne
