The future will be decided 150 years after its founding

In September 2025, the Kunstmuseum Bern celebrates the 150th anniversary of the “Corporation Bernisches Kunstmuseum” – today’s Kunstmuseum Bern Foundation. The corporation was founded by the Canton of Bern, the City of Bern, the Burgergemeinde Bern, the Bernese Cantonal Art Association, and the Bernese Artists’ Society. Its aim was to establish an art museum in Bern and ensure its long-term operation. A key supporter of this endeavor was the artist and then member of the Grand Council, Albert Anker. Exactly 150 years after the signing of the statutes, the Grand Council of the Canton of Bern will decide on the institution’s future during its autumn session.

During the 19th century, the Canton of Bern and the Bernese Artists’ Society began building art collections. In 1849, the two collections were merged, and the desire for an art museum in Bern grew stronger, as a proper space was needed to display them. Until then, the works had been stored in various temporary locations across the city. An architectural competition was launched, but the plans were eventually abandoned due to insufficient funds.

In 1869, the Bernese Artists’ Society and the Bernese Cantonal Art Association (renamed the Friends of the Kunstmuseum Bern in 1919) made a renewed effort. They raised funds for a building and successfully lobbied the Bernese government for the establishment of a museum. The project was brought before the Grand Council, where it found a strong advocate in Albert Anker, who served as a member from 1870 to 1874. In 1871, Anker was appointed president of a “Commission for an Art Museum”, tasked with finding suitable land and securing financing. Soon afterward, the Burgergemeinde Bern provided a plot of land free of charge for the construction. When architect Gottlieb Hebler (1817–1875) bequeathed his entire fortune to the City of Bern in 1875 for the museum’s construction, the necessary funds were finally secured.

The "Corporation Bernisches Kunstmuseum" as the building contractor

To oversee the construction, the “Corporation Bernisches Kunstmuseum” was founded, with the purpose of creating and maintaining a building where the collections could be preserved, expanded, and exhibited under one roof. On September 10, 1875, the five founding members – the Canton of Bern, the City of Bern, the Burgergemeinde Bern, the Bernese Cantonal Art Association, and the Bernese Artists’ Society – signed the foundation charter. A few days later, on September 16, 1875, the statutes were approved by the Grand Council, laying the cornerstone for an art museum in Bern. The museum building was designed by city architect Eugen Stettler, with construction beginning in spring 1876. On August 9, 1879, the museum was officially inaugurated. At the time, the collection comprised roughly 300 works. Today, the Kunstmuseum Bern houses around 75,000 works, including more than 4,000 paintings and sculptures as well as approximately 70,000 drawings, prints, photographs, videos, and films. In 1917, the “Corporation Bernisches Kunstmuseum” was transformed into the Kunstmuseum Bern Foundation, a nonprofit organization that continues to own, operate, and further develop the museum while remaining responsible for the collections entrusted to it.

Early Works on Display

To mark this anniversary, the Kunstmuseum Bern is presenting a small selection of eight works, offering a glimpse into the beginnings of its collection. The selection reflects the spirit of the era, when Bernese artists from the 15th century up to the then-contemporary period were at the center of attention, while Swiss artists from other regions were also increasingly included. Among the highlights on display are Albert Anker’s The Grandfather’s Devotion and Ferdinand Hodler’s famous self-portrait The Angry One.

The Grand Council to Decide on the Future of the Kunstmuseum Bern in September

150 years after the founding of the “Corporation Bernisches Kunstmuseum” for the construction of the museum, history could repeat itself. During its autumn session in September 2025, the Grand Council (Cantonal Parliament) will debate the future of the Kunstmuseum Bern and decide on the project planning credit for its renewal. The current building complex of the Kunstmuseum Bern consists of the original building designed by Eugen Stettler in 1879 and an extension by Atelier 5 from 1983. The ensemble is now in urgent need of renovation and modernization. With the winning project “Eiger” of the international architectural competition, Schmidlin Architekten have developed a forward-looking solution. As was the case 150 years ago, the project is planned to be financed through a joint effort involving public funding, private contributions, and support from the business sector.