Culture and Arts at the Caux Palace
ARTS & CULTURE AT THE CAUX PALACE
Caux Initiatives of Change has a long-standing association with the arts, recognizing the power of artistic expression to promote understanding, reconciliation, and positive social change.
For concerts, residencies, exhibitions and theatrical representations, the Caux Palace offers a unique and inspiring venue which is guaranteed to create an unforgettable experience for your audience.
Our dedicated spaces include:
- our 385-seat fully- equipped baroque-style theatre
- the Main Hall, also equipped with a more informal stage
- the Belle Epoque expo room
Residencies for artists
The Caux Palace would like to make its facilities available to cultural organisations or artists for residencies (subject to availability). The exceptional geographical location of the Caux Palace, overlooking Lake Geneva and close to Geneva, makes it ideal for retreats, research and creative residencies, preferably in the field of writing and design in general.
We have a range of spaces available for this purpose (meeting and work rooms, lounges, music studio, theatre, guestrooms).
For further information, please contact Anne-Catherine Sutermeister: EMAIL
Contact us
For more information on cultural and artistic events at the Caux Palace, please contact us: EMAIL
_________________________________________________________________________________________
DISCOVER OUR PAST EVENTS
Exhibition
"ABOUT DEMOCRACY..." - CARTOONS BY PATRICK CHAPPATTE"
Press cartoons have become a recognised genre: inevitably subjective, they are artistic and journalistic representations of current events and reflect the artistic creativity of their creator, who uses drawing, typography and graphics to express his or her interpretation of the news in all its forms. The drawings on displayed at the Caux Palace in 2024 showcased the wide range of Patrick Chappatte's artistic creativity. Patrick Chappatte was born in Pakistan in 1967 to a mother of Lebanese origin and a Swiss father. Published in the world's leading newspapers, he quickly made a name for himself with his incisive and caustic take on current affairs in Europe and around the world. He has worked for Le Temps, the NZZ, Der Spiegel, Le Canard enchaîné and The New York Times. He chairs the Freedom Cartoonist Foundation, inspired by Plantu and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan, and is involved in a number of initiatives to promote peace and democracy around the world. The cartoons displayed at the Caux Palace in July 2024 reveal the full complexity of press cartoons and, more particularly, the humour and art of Patrick Chappatte! (photo: Matthieu Zellweger/cartoon: P. Chappatte)
-
15 - 27 July 2024: Main Hall (4th floor), Caux Palace
"VOYAGE EN TERRE HUMAINE" - AN EXHIBITION OF STONEWARE SCULPTURES BY SYLVIE ESQUERRÉ
Sylvie Esquerré's motto is: "Life is not as it is portrayed ... it is as you colour it!" After teaching mathematics, Sylvie Esquerré has been passionately devoting herself for over 10 years to wood and stoneware sculpture, two materials she often likes to combine. Various training courses with internationally-renowned ceramists such as Alberto Bustos, Stuart Williamson for modelling, Patrick Buté for research into high-temperature glazes and Anne Le Hénaff for raku have enabled her to develop her knowledge and practices, and choose her own artistic approach. She is particularly passionate about creating pieces that explore both organic and abstract forms, as well as original textures and finishes. In the future she hopes to continue perfecting her skills, to persevere in her experiments with oxides, enamels, engobes and terra sigillata, and to develop her communication skills to be able to better share her passion and her values.
- 9 July - 27 July 2024: Salle Belle Epoque (4th floor)
"FAIRE LA PAIRES" - PHOTO EXHIBITION
Action-Parrainages and l'association suisse PAIRES work hand in hand to promote encounters and the creation of links between people seeking refuge in Switzerland and people from the host society. When paths cross, friendships are forged and life paths can change. In 2016 and 2017, in response to the growing influx of refugees, projects were launched to link people who had been living in Switzerland for a long time with families, young people, men and women in exile. The aim was to get to know each other, overcome prejudices, support new arrivals in their integration and start to build together this part of the country that we share, be it for a short or a long time.
Action-Parrainages and PAIRES (Projet pour l'Aide à l'Inclusion des Réfugiés-e-s en Suisse) have similar goals and are working together to achieve them. As a tribute to how far they have come, the travelling exhibition "Faire la PAIRES", organised with the support of Fonds lausannois pour l’intégration, unveils some of these pairs - people who have known each other for 3 years, 3 months or... 3 days.
- 9 July - 27 July 2024: Belle Epoque (4th floor)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Music & Concerts
VIOLIN: JEAN-MARC VIGNOLI
Jean-Marc Vignoli is a musician and lives in France. After training as both a violinist and an engineer, and a long career in industry, he (re)discovered the path to his own creative expression. For the last ten years or so, he has been living and sharing the mysteries of sound, improvisation and creativity and has also recorded several CDs. Jean-Marc Vignoli describes himself as a 'tailor-made' violinist. The music he plays is inspired by the message, the mood and the moment in which it takes place. Having become aware of the therapeutic dimension of music, he has turned his attention to the dimension of sound that soothes, relieves and harmonises, helping to transform and heal the human being in intimate contact with nature.
- 9 July 2024, 14:30 CEST: Opening Ceremony Caux Inner Development Goals Forum - Maison de la Paix, Geneva
- 15 July 2024, 16:00 CEST: Opening Ceremony Caux Democracy Forum - Caux Palace
JAZZ: GOKSU SANDIKCI QUINTET
Born in Istanbul, Göksu Sandıkçı's journey is a captivating blend of two worlds: the structured realm of Electronics Engineering and the soul-stirring realm of music. From her earliest days, she found herself drawn to melodies, serving as the lead singer in orchestras during her primary school years. It was there that her passion for music first took root, blossoming into a desire to explore the depths of jazz. In 2014, Göksu's jazz odyssey truly began when she attended Sibel Köse’s Jazz Workshop, marking the inception of a lifelong love affair with the genre. Fueling her ambition, she completed the Jazz Certificate Program at Bahcesehir University, solidifying her commitment and quest for musical excellence. This led her to traverse Europe, studying under the tutelage of esteemed jazz mentors. Each chord progression and improvisation became a brushstroke on the canvas of her artistry, shaping her unique voice and style. Her thirst for knowledge and artistic growth has taken her across the globe, getting various education in Poland, Italy, the UK, and the USA. Göksu had opportunities to showcase her talent not only at prestigious jazz clubs and festivals in Turkey, but also international ones such as Veneto Jazz in Italy, Mau Mau in London, San Diego Art Museum and recently in jazz clubs of Switzerland. Now residing in Switzerland, Göksu brings her eclectic music taste to the forefront, blending jazz standards with elements of funk, blues, R&B, and soul. As she took the stage in Caux, her music accompanied the softness of the sunset..and even a rainbow which made a surprise appearance. (photo: Iremnur Demir Esen)
Göksu (vocals) performed together with four talented musicians: Valentin Conus (sax), Pablo Klopfenstein (piano), Latyr Boyle (double bass), Gabriel Deloffre (Drums)
FOLK-POP: NOLA KIN
Nola Kin is all about embracing her inner chaos and staying true to herself. The Zurich-based singer-songwriter brings raw energy to her performances. With a powerful voice and a unique guitar style, backed by a band that can range from four to seven members, including horn sections, she creates an electrifying atmosphere on stage. Nola Kin is an overthinker with a brain that does wild things, which mostly inspired her latest EP, „Mayhem“. Inspired by artists like Blake Mills, Bon Iver, and Dijon, her music blends Indie folk, soul, country, and Americana into a lush sound with attitude. For Nola Kin, music is therapy—a way to let go and be herself. From the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival to venues in Copenhagen, Nola Kin's performances have left audiences captivated. She is currently nominated for the "Artist Award" at the Swiss Music Awards, an honor reserved for exceptional musicians. This concert at the Caux Democracy Forum 2024 was organised with the support of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation. (photo: Andrin Fretz)
SOLO VIOLIN: HYUNG JOON WON
Hyung Joon Won is a South Korean violinist trained at the Juilliard School. In 1990, he performed at the World Economic Forum which celebrated the 1990 reunification of East and West Germany. This inspired him to think of music as a medium of reconciliation. In 2009, with the hope of creating a joint North and South Korea orchestra, he founded the Lindenbaum Festival Orchestra. Since 2009, he is planning to hold a joint orchestra concert between the Koreas. Hyung believes that eventually, his dreams will come true. His relentless efforts towards making his dream a reality is captured in the documentary film named “9 at 38”.
17 July 2024, 20:00 - 20:30 CEST: Caux Democracy Forum, Caux Palace Theatre
PIANO RECITAL: KHATIA BUNIATISHIVILI - CHARITY CONCERT
We were extremely honoured and grateful to welcome world-renowned pianist Khatia Buniatishvili for an exceptional concert at the Caux Palace on Saturday, 25 May, 2024. The funds raised were in support of the programme Arts and Peace Encounters to promote culture in the service of peace developed by the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation. The Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation was delighted to be able to partner with the Saison culturelle de Montreux, providing its expertise and resources to support the organisation of the evening. Supporting charitable causes is also one of the Saison's missions. This new collaboration, which comes on top of the Emergences Musicales series, also reinforces the desire of both institutions to work together towards a local cultural policy. (photo: Lou Barthelemy)
25 May 2024, 19:00 CEST: Caux Palace Theatre
SWISS ALPHORN TRIO - EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS
On 7 and 8 September 2024, the Caux Palace opened its doors in glorious sunshine for the 2024 edition of the European Heritage Days. Having been selected as one of the five ‘must-see’ historic sites in the Canton of Vaud, we were delighted to welcome hundreds of enthusiastic visitors to the Caux Palace who took part in guided tours, enjoyed the exceptional views and magnificent gardens and listened to the Swiss Alphorn Trio, which combines traditional music with modern sounds. Fresh, cheeky, virtuosic, diverse: The three musicians of the Swiss Alphorn Trio are convincing with their both modern yet traditional alphorn playing. The Swiss Alphorn Trio was born while the three musicians studied at the Bern University of the Arts. Since then, the trio has performed at various locations in Switzerland as well as in Europe and overseas. The three young musicians give the alphorn a youthful touch while playing a wide repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary music. Even traditional alphorn music holds a large role in their repertoire. A broad repertoire and lively interpretations make this Swiss Alphorn Trio a special experience.
7 + 8 September 2024, Caux Palace gardens
MARIA DE LA PAZ CANTA LHASA
Captivating songs in three languages. An exceptional venue. And an international audience from all walks of life. When Maria de la Paz and her talented musicians stepped onto the stage of the Caux Palace theatre on 13 September 2023, their performance left no-one indifferent. Their songs, performed in front of more than 300 people, including representatives from the humanitarian sector, local cultural associations and refugees, spoke of hope, passion, shared values and humanity, transcending differences in our backgrounds and origins. The concert was the highlight of an evening, organized by Caux Initiatives of Change, that included speeches from UNHCR and the Swiss association PAIRES, on the concept of hospitality for change and the support and inclusion of migrants (read more about our collaboration).
13 September 2023, 20:00 CEST, Caux Palace Theatre