Schweizerische Nationalbank : Swiss National Bank and Bernisches Historisches Museum plan visitor centre for Kaiserhaus arcade in Berne

Joint press release by the Swiss National Bank and the Bernisches Historisches Museum

Swiss National Bank and Bernisches Historisches Museum plan visitor centre for Kaiserhaus arcade in Berne

Renovation and alteration work on the Kaiserhaus arcade (Kaiserhauspassage), which has belonged to the Swiss National Bank (SNB) since 1971, commenced at the beginning of 2018. This work, which is due to take several years, will upgrade the arcade's architectural and creative worth. As part of the project, the SNB is establishing a visitor centre at this central location close to the Bundesplatz.

For the conceptual design and creation of the visitor centre, the SNB has partnered with the Bernisches Historisches Museum. This significant cultural-historical institution has extensive experience in creating high-quality exhibitions attractive to a wide audience. It is planned that the Bernisches Historisches Museum will also manage the operation of the visitor centre once it has opened.

The visitor centre will focus on money, monetary policy and central banks, and offer visitors the chance to experience, learn and be amazed by topics of importance to both institutions. The visitor centre will enable the Bernisches Historisches Museum to present aspects of economic history - from the 19th and 20th centuries in particular - to a broad audience, and to establish a presence in the centre of Berne. The visitor centre is scheduled to open at the end of 2021 as part of the re-opening of the Kaiserhaus arcade.

Swiss National Bank

Börsenstrasse 15, 8022 Zurich

Walter Meier, Head of Media Relationswalter.meier@snb.ch,+41 58 631 33 68

Bernisches Historisches Museum Helvetiaplatz 5, 3005 Berne, bhm.ch

Merja Rinderli, Head of Marketing and Communicationsmerja.rinderli@bhm.ch,+41 31 350 77 83