About us
The PROGR is an artistic center and cultural hub in the heart of Berne. It comprises more than 200 artists distributed in 70 studios and working in all media. Neighboring them are cultural institutions and organizers. The public area located on the ground floor accommodates exhibitions and concerts and two gastronomic units provide venues for encounters.
The PROGR foundation
The framework for the studio house and its public use is articulated by the goals of the PROGR foundation:
- Support of contemporary cultural practice through the rent of inexpensive studio spaces for artists of all media.
- For this purpose the planning and building rights of the building under Waisenhausplatz 30 have been taken on by the PROGR foundation.
- Renovation and maintenance of the building
- Professional and sustainable management of the same.
Foundation and financing
The PROGR foundation was established on 22 May 2009 by the association "Künstlerinitiative pro Progr" (Peter Aerschmann, Matthias Kuhn, Adriana Stadler, Andrea Leila Kühni, Marc Stucki, Sophie Schmidt and Rodja Galli), with the support of the art collectors Carola and Günther Ertle-Ketterer.
The capital for the purchase of the building comes primarily from a gift from Dr. h. c. Hansjörg Wyss (2 million CHF) as well as from a group of around 100 lenders. The operation of the cultural center is financed uniquely through the rents of the studios (1 million CHF) and is to no degree supported by the city of Bern. The PROGR foundation consciously opts not to accept further financial support in order not to pose a concurrence for the event organizers and artists of the house.
The foundation is freed from tax burdens.
Board of the foundation
The board of the foundation is comprised of artists, experts and partner institutions (5 to 9 members). The majority are artists.
PROGR management
A team consisting of four people is responsible for the smooth management of the studio house on behalf of the PROGR foundation board.
Silvia Hofer
Senior Management
silvia.hofer@progr.ch
+41 (0)31 318 82 70
Urs Emmenegger
Events Management, Member Executive Management
Rental requests for Aula and Kleine Bühne please use our online form
veranstaltungen@progr.ch
+41 (0)31 318 82 74
Eve Angst
Gastronomy Management, Member Executive Management
eve.angst@progr.ch
+41 (0)31 533 54 11
Ramon Stricker
Caretaker
hauswart@progr.ch
+41 (0)79 834 16 32
-> For lost items please contact the event organizer directly.
Mirjam Fierz
Events and Projects
mirjam.fierz@progr.ch
+41 (0)31 533 54 12
Cyril Ressnig
Assistance
assistenz@progr.ch
+41 (0)31 533 54 12
Katja Gipp
Accounting
Arife Terziu
Head of Cleaning Services
Flo Hufschmid
Allrounder