“Black day for Swiss culture”

Actors performing the play "William Tell" at the Paris exhibtion Keystone

The director of Geneva’s art and history museums has condemned parliament’s decision to cut the Arts Council’s budget because of a controversial exhibition.

Cäsar Menz told swissinfo that the move amounted to state censorship and would harm Switzerland’s image abroad.

On Thursday the Senate succeeded in cutting SFr1 million ($880,000) from the budget of the Arts Council of Switzerland, Pro Helvetia, leaving the organisation with SFr33 million for next year.

Senators refused to back down despite coming under pressure from the House of Representatives.

The object of their ire was an exhibition in Paris by Swiss artist Thomas Hirschhorn, entitled “Swiss-Swiss Democracy”, which they said attacked the country’s “most intimate values”.

The exhibition features a man urinating on a portrait of Justice Minister Christoph Blocher and displays Swiss ballot papers showing images of tortured Iraqis.

Cäsar Menz, who is director of an eight-strong stable of museums in the city of Geneva, including the Musée Rath, said parliament had made itself look “ridiculous”.

swissinfo: What is your reaction to the decision?

Cäsar Menz: I am deeply shocked and I can’t understand this decision, because if you take away SFr1 million you’re not only punishing this particular artist but also the institutions that are presenting exhibitions in Switzerland or abroad.

swissinfo: What impact is this likely to have on the Swiss arts world?

C.M.: I think it will be very, very difficult for Pro Helvetia to do its job, because it isn’t a cultural institution with a lot of money at its disposal. It has a difficult job in a field that is extremely important for Switzerland: giving a good image of Switzerland at a cultural level.

swissinfo: Does this decision mean there is no room for provocative art in Switzerland?

C.M.: The role of Pro Helvetia is to promote Swiss art and culture, and an artist can provoke – art must provoke. You can’t present Switzerland as a country with the Matterhorn, Swiss Army knives and fondue – it’s ridiculous.

swissinfo: What does this say about the independence of Pro Helvetia?

C.M.: This means that Pro Helvetia isn’t an independent cultural institution – it is now under the control of parliament. They’re sending out a very clear message.

swissinfo: Is parliament the right place to decide what constitutes “good” and “bad” art?

C.M.: No, I think parliament has to provide money to create the right conditions in which cultural institutions and Swiss artists can work in a good way and make the best use of this money.

swissinfo: How is this decision likely to be viewed abroad?

C.M.: I think it’s not very good for the image of Switzerland – or for the image of Swiss politics and the Swiss parliament. The message is very clear and everybody will read about it. They are saying they have the right to censor all art that goes out in the name of Switzerland. This is a black day for Swiss culture.

swissinfo-interview: Adam Beaumont

In brief

Parliament has cut SFr1 million from the Arts Council’s budget as a punishment for supporting a controversial exhibition in Paris.

The Senate refused to accept a compromise figure of SFr180,000, stating that Pro Helvetia needed to be taught a lesson.

The arts body said a “collective punishment” was inappropriate and would hurt many artists.