The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum is holding an open weekend on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June, just two weeks before its temporary closure for a complete transformation, This will be a chance for visitors to immerse themselves one last time in the unique spirit of the museum and discover the fascinating history of the first humanitarian organisation in the world, before it closes its doors until 2013!
About the museum
On 29 October 1988, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum (MICR) officially opened its doors in Geneva. Over the years, the museum has touched people’s spirits and made visitors aware of the importance of humanitarian action. Since its foundation, it has welcomed some 2 million visitors, more than half of whom were from other countries worldwide, who came to visit its permanent exhibition and the 47 temporary exhibitions that have been organised over the years. In 23 years, the MICR has become Geneva’s 3rd ranking museum and one of the 20 most important museums in Switzerland, in terms of visitors received.
Open weekend on 25 and 26 June 2011 before temporary closure
The museum is getting ready to close its doors temporarily on 1 July for important transformation work: «humanitarian action has changed, just as have the means of communication», explains Roger Mayou, director of MICR. «Our museum owes it to itself to reflect this change by adopting a layout incorporating themed areas that will illustrate contemporary humanitarian action», he adds.
Before its temporary closure on Thursday 30 June, the MICR will remain open to the public during its normal hours – 10.00 to 17.00, except for Tuesday – and will organise an open weekend on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June.
A new Museum for 2013
In the spring of 2013, the MICR will welcome its visitors into a space that will have been entirely transformed. Thanks to the work of the architects, Gringo Cardia (Brazil), Francis Kéré (Burkina Faso), Shigeru Ban (Japan) – coordinated by Atelier Oï (Switzerland) – the new permanent exhibition will be a real adventure, reconciling emotional dimension, intellectual enrichment and aesthetic sensibility. The MICR will also have a new Visitor Center shared with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a new hall for temporary exhibitions, measuring 500 m2, a new educational area and increased storage for the conservation of the 40,000 pieces that constitute its archives.
THE MUSEUM UNTIL TODAY
· Nearly 2 million visitors, 50% being international.
· 100,000 visitors each year.
· Geneva’s 3rd ranking museum and among Switzerland’s top twenty in terms of visitors received.
· A permanent exhibition space of 1,400 m2.
· 47 temporary exhibitions.
· The privileged custodian of almost 40,000 objects belonging to the heritage of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.
· 106 conferences provoking debate on questions of current affairs.
· A permanent staff of 20 people.
· 51 volunteer staff in charge of guided tours (more than 1,000 guided tours per year in ten languages).
· 650,000 meals in the Museum restaurant!
· 3,216 anti-stress balls in the shop...
TOMORROW'S MUSEUM
· A new permanent exhibition with a themed approach to contemporary humanitarian action, seen within a historical perspective.
· A design and layout which will enhance even further the most precious objects on display (the Geneva Convention, the files of World War I prisoners, etc.).
· An enhanced exhibition space amounting to 2,000 m2.
· A new hall for temporary exhibitions measuring 500 m2.
· An On the spot area with interactive presentation of the latest news on the field.
· Specific infrastructures intended for younger visitors.
· New storage for its ever-increasing collections.
· A Visitors’ Center shared with the ICRC.
If you are interested in visiting some museums this summer and if you want to save some money on the entrance prices then have a look at the following packages. There are lots of museums that are free of charge and are listed in Know-it-all passport® 2011/2012 on pages 297-308.
MUSEUM PASSPORT
www.geneve-tourisme.ch
Buy a museum passport valid 3 months: gives access to 7 private museums in Geneva for Fr. 20.-.
It can be purchased at any of the following museums or the Geneva Tourist Office on rue du Mont-Blanc.
1. Collections Baur
2. Fondation Martin Bodmer
3. Institut et Musée des Suisses dans le Monde
4. Musée Barbier-Mueller
5. Musée international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge*
6. Musée international de la Réforme
7. Patek Philippe Museum
MUSEUM PASS
www.museumspass.ch
Schweizer Museumspass
Hornbachstrasse 50
8034 Zürich
044 389 84 56
Swiss Museum Pass offers also in 2011 free admission to more than 440 museums in Switzerland.
The Pass is sold at post offices, through the website, at main museums, or at Tourist Offices. Price: Annual pass Fr. 144.-/adult, Fr. 255.-/family card (2 adults + up to 5 children).
The following museums in Basel have decided not to accept any longer Swiss Museum Pass after 1.1.2011: Römermuseum Augst; Antikenmuseum with Skulpturhalle; Basler Papiermühle; Historisches Museum with Barfüsserkirche, Haus zum Kirschgarten and Musikmuseum; Kunstmuseum; Museum der Kulturen; Pharmazie-Hist. Museum; Museum Baselland.
Verkehrshaus - museum of transportation in Lucerne: 50% discount on entrance fee.
Free admission to collections and special exhibitions to all other museums. As often as you want.
