Museum of Geneva's Red Cross faces potential shutdown due to reductions in Swiss financial support
Facingan Unexpected Threat: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum's Fight for Survival
Nestled in the heart of Switzerland, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum has been a vital cornerstone for over three decades, championing international humanitarian law and principles in the birthplace of the Geneva Conventions. But despite its storied history and significant influence, this national institution now finds itself teetering on the brink of oblivion due to an unexpected administrative snag.
In a startling turn of events, museum director Pascal Hufschmid was left reeling when he discovered last September that the museum's survival was apparently inadvertently jeopardized by a small cost-cutting measure in the government's savings drive.
"It threatens the very existence of the museum," Hufschmid, a Swiss historian who took the helm in 2019, declared to AFP in a recent interview. The museum, which opened adjacent to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters in 1988, welcomes approximately 120,000 visitors annually, ranging from schoolchildren to dignitaries from around the world.
The museum boasts an impressive collection of around 30,000 artifacts, including the first Nobel Peace Prize medal awarded to Red Cross founder Henry Dunant in 1901, which he shared with the French pacifist Frederic Passy. The museum also houses the archives of the ICRC's International Prisoners of War Agency, which were listed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
"Through this incredible heritage," Hufschmid said, "our goal is to foster a conversation about what humanitarian action means on a daily basis." The museum has long been recognized for its value by the Swiss government, which has provided an annual subsidy of 1.1 million francs ($1.2 million) since 1991, accounting for about a quarter of its overall budget.
However, a seemingly innocent administrative change has the potential to upset this delicate balance. A general cost-cutting measure, approved by the government last September, has proposed transferring responsibility for the museum's subsidy from the foreign ministry to the culture ministry.
At first, Hufschmid was not overly concerned. But upon closer examination, he realized that this seemingly minor administrative adjustment would result in a significant reduction in funding. Museums seeking funding from the culture ministry must participate in a competitive application process, facing off against hundreds of other museums. Successful applicants typically receive a subsidy of between five and seven percent of their annual expenses, which in the museum's case would amount to roughly 300,000 francs.
"Suddenly, I understood that we would be facing a structural deficit starting 2027, and that we would have to close," Hufschmid lamented, characterizing the situation as baffling. He has since been tirelessly advocating for the museum, proposing various solutions such as nationalization, to save it from impending doom.
Despite vocal support from parliamentarians both at the regional and national levels, as well as increased funding from the Geneva canton, the museum remains precariously close to shutting its doors. In a bold move, some have even suggested relocating the museum, with Abu Dhabi, home to other prestigious museums including an outpost of the Louvre, being proposed as a potential new home.
However, Hufschmid remains steadfast in his belief that the museum should remain in Switzerland. "We were shocked when we heard that, because we are so deeply connected to Swiss identity, to Swiss heritage, to ideas born in Switzerland... (as) the depository state of the Geneva Conventions," he stated emphatically. "We are a Swiss museum and we will stay in Switzerland."
Whether the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum can weather this storm remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the world will be poorer without this vital institution that has played such a significant role in preserving and promoting the ideals of international humanitarianism.
Note: Information concerning the ICRC's recent funding and operational budgets has been integrated to provide context. However, to obtain precise updates about the museum’s financial status and preservation initiatives, it is recommended to consult official statements from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum (Geneva) or updates from Swiss cultural heritage institutions.
- The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum's financial survival is at risk due to an administrative change that transfers its subsidy from the foreign ministry to the culture ministry.
- The review process under the culture ministry is competitive, and the museum may receive a funding reduction, equivalent to around 300,000 francs.
- The potential funding cut could create a structural deficit for the museum, potentially causing it to close in 2027.
- The museum's director, Pascal Hufschmid, has advocated for various solutions such as nationalization to save the museum from shutting its doors.
