Museum Franz Gertsch

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The museum franz gertsch is a privately financed museum which is dedicated to the works of Franz Gertsch . In addition to this, just over half of the museum's exhibition space is reserved for temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.

In April 1998, a meeting took place between Burgdorf-based industrialist Willy Michel, chairman of the board of directors of Disetronic Holding AG, and artist Franz Gertsch in the latter's studio in Rüschegg. Willy Michel was captivated by the works of Franz Gertsch at sight, and not long after this first encounter he decided to establish a museum for a future Gertsch collection on a centrally located site in Burgdorf, formerly home to Milka Käserei AG.

A town planning competition had been held at an earlier stage with a view to finding a suitable urban planning for that area. The Swiss team of architects Jörg & Sturm emerged as the winners and were offered the contract for the museum project by Willy Michel. Construction work began in summer 2000 with the museum opening ceremony following in October 2002 (further information concerning the architecture is available on the information sheet entitled "Architecture").

The basis of the museum collection was provided by the stiftung willy michel [Willy Michel Foundation], which was established in autumn 2001. Willy Michel contributed five paintings and several woodcuts to the foundation and Franz Gertsch himself provided a further selection of woodcuts. In a unique constellation, the museum had the entire works of the artist from the period 1987-2002 at its disposal. On the museum's side, a first-class board of trustees offers advice on important matters. Besides Willy Michel and Franz Gertsch , members of the board include: Jean-Christophe Ammann (former director of the Museum für Moderne Kunst [Museum of Modern Art], Frankfurt), Guido de Werd (Director of Museum Kurhaus, Kleve) and Peter Everts (former CEO of the Migros Group).

As a dynamic and innovative entrepreneur, Willy Michel also prepared the ground for an innovative method of financing the museum. In a pioneering model in line with the "art for art" principle, the museum was joined to the commercial gallery galerie im park. All proceeds from the gallery flow into the museum budget, thus contributing to the financing of the museum. In this way, every purchase made in the gallery helps to run the museum.

The galerie im park represents Franz Gertsch 's art work exclusively in Switzerland.