The assault on cultural bodies by people in the pop vein continues. After Vaud Cultural Affairs was taken over a month ago by Michel Vust, who came in particular from the Neuchâtel Fantastic Film Festival, Pro Helvetia announces that its new director will be Michael Kinzer. The current head of the Cultural Service of the city of Lausanne will take the helm of the Swiss culture foundation from July 1, 2025. He started as a programmer at the scoundrel Fri-Son concert hall in Fribourg.
The foundation has gone through some turbulence in recent years. Its current director, Philippe Bischof, announced his departure a year ago by mid-2025, which means a shortened mandate. He will complete it alongside Michael Brändle, former advisor to Alain Berset, who succeeded Charles Beer as president of the foundation board in January.
From Fri-Son to the city of Lausanne via arteplages
Michael Kinzer has a well-rounded CV. After Fri-Son, he worked for Expo.02, co-piloting the Cargo world music space on the Neuchâtel arteplage, a scene that left a lasting impression. He was also general coordinator of the events of the great national bastringue.
At the end of the party, he directed a foundation bringing together the Théâtre populaire romand as well as the music hall and the L’Heure bleue theater, in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Then, from 2009 to 2015, he directed the Festival de la Cité in Lausanne. Two years later, he became head of the city’s Cultural Affairs Department. He is also co-president of the Conference of Cities on Cultural Matters, an interesting position for analyzing the mechanics of cultural policy in cantons and cities – very useful when subsequently climbing to the level of Pro Helvetia.
A framed selection
In this Wednesday’s press release, the future director is cautious, saying he wants to “put my energy and my convictions at the service of the vitality and diversity of our country’s cultural scene.”
In an environment where self-criticism is quick to come, the foundation wishes to emphasize the rigidity of its procedure. “The selection process was carried out by an external recruitment office and consisted of several rounds and a assessment [une évaluation]. A commission of five people delegated by the foundation board accompanied the procedure,” notes the body, which indicates that the winner was chosen unanimously.
If its board has long been chaired by Genevan Charles Beer, the management of Pro Helvetia has been German-speaking for many years. With Carine Bachmann at the Federal Office of Culture, the two main Swiss cultural policy organizations will be run by French-speaking people, a rare occurrence.
