Coolturalia - Explore Geneva's Vibrant Cultural Scene

Don’t miss out: Events running for less than two weeks

Tuesday 12 May, 18:30

Meet Pierre Conesa

This book is a short work intended to shed light on certain geopolitical realities and the disconnect observed among some decision-makers, who are more concerned with their own future than with the specific nature of each crisis. Most of the time, this translates into sending in the military, even when there is no legitimacy. “No one likes armed missionaries,” as Saint-Just already observed. The text is illustrated with quotations, examples of deadly wars devoid of strategic importance, and a range of political arguments. This short work is the result of nearly 30 years spent in the upper echelons of public life, primarily at the Ministry of Defense. Pierre Conesa

In French.

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Tuesday 12 May, 12:30

Jean Liermier

Lectures & Workshops

Société de lecture

Journalist Patrick Ferla leads a conversation with Jean Liermier, an experienced theatre director reflecting on his long tenure and creative approach. The discussion traces Liermier’s staging choices, visual and sound strategies, and the playful reinvention of season presentations. Attendees will gain insight into the director’s methods, memorable productions and the role of surprise and memory in theatrical curation. The session emphasises artistic process, theatrical language and the relationship between director and audience.

In French.

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12 & 13 May

Become Sub-Optimal

Lectures & Workshops

GamMAH

Olivier Hamant’s lecture delves into the shortcomings of traditional measurement and evaluation tools in capturing the complexity of artistic and collective processes. Drawing inspiration from living systems, it suggests alternative approaches that are slower, more flexible, and aligned with relational dynamics and unseen transformations, as part of a collaboration between MAH and least.

In French.

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Tuesday 12 May, 19:30

Mon Cabrel préféré

Performances

Uptown

An intimate musical tribute that reimagines the songs of Francis Cabrel through acoustic arrangements and thoughtful reinterpretation. The performance blends close-knit ensemble playing with sparse staging to foreground lyrical nuance and emotional resonance. Textures shift between folk intimacy and orchestral warmth, inviting reflection on memory, longing and small-town stories. The production favors subtle dynamics and poetic phrasing, intimately.

In French.

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12 – 13 May

Marion Mezadorian – Craquage

Performances

Salle Communale d'Onex

Craquage, the second solo show by French comedian and writer Marion Mezadorian, presents a vibrant gallery of everyday characters — sixteen in total — each facing a silent personal crisis. From a weary mother to a local bartender or hairdresser, they all eventually break down and open up, sparking both laughter and emotion.

Through their loud, heartfelt confessions, Mezadorian gives voice to the unspoken, turning trauma into comedy with warmth and perspective. Her infectious energy and charisma bring these very human moments to life, making Craquage a moving, funny, and unmissable gem.

In French.

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12 – 24 May

La Tectonique des Sentiments

Performances

Théâtre des Grottes

Written by E.-E. Schmitt, La Tectonique des Sentiments probes how love can turn to hatred in an instant. The plot follows Diane and Richard as imagined betrayals unleash seismic emotional shifts, toppling certainties and stirring violent tenderness. The piece balances sharp comedy and quiet cruelty, dissecting contradictions of desire through intimate exchanges and sudden tremors of feeling. The staging favors psychological clarity and a charged, oscillating atmosphere that leaves the audience unsettled and moved.

In French.

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Events running for an extended period

29 April – 31 December

Art & Soin – Sublimations

Art & Exhibits

HUG

This exhibition brings together archival photographs, historical medical objects and contemporary works to examine how illness is represented and embodied. Through photography, installation and mixed-media pieces, artists probe how bodily experience resists language and is translated into image, narrative and presence. The presentation includes a new work by Sabrina Röthlisberger Belkacem and is curated by Sara Petrucci with scenography by OnLab, creating a dialogue between archives and recent artistic responses.

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7 May – 20 June

Forza Silenziosa – Sofia Cacciapaglia

Art & Exhibits

MABE Gallery

MABE Gallery presents Forza Silenziosa, the second solo exhibition of Sofia Cacciapaglia, whose paintings evoke a quiet, fluid world where forms, bodies, and landscapes gently merge, expressing a soft yet powerful feminine presence rooted in emotion, connection, and subtle energy.

Her work emphasizes transformation, intimacy, and dreamlike atmospheres, where silence carries intensity. Using reclaimed cardboard from her Milan neighborhood, she connects to the ethos of Arte Povera—a movement theorized by Germano Celant and associated with artists like Michelangelo Pistoletto and Jannis Kounellis—by embracing ‘poor’ materials and their histories; however, she diverges through her distinctly figurative and painterly approach, transforming humble surfaces into poetic images that bridge material awareness with narrative, imagination, and contemporary femininity.

Opening: Thursday 7 May, 16:00 – 21:00

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20 April – 7 June

Short-Form Laboratory

Lectures & Workshops

Théâtre des Marionnettes

Designed for emerging professionals and recent graduates, this workshop explores puppetry through the creation of a short performance. Four to five young artists are supported through a guided process from idea to stage, with mentorship in direction, dramaturgy and construction. Participants develop a compact work presented at a public work-in-progress showcase. The programme also offers the chance to win a fully funded four-week training placement in 2027 at Odradek, near Toulouse.

In French.

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28 April – 13 May

Hé, Prométhée !

Performances

Théâtre du Grütli

A solitary man ventures through the desert in search of Prometheus, blaming the gods for igniting a consuming fire within each human. This monologue delves into the connections between ancient tragedy and contemporary turmoil, examining desire and existence through the lenses of love and creation, all in pursuit of an illuminating fire that does not consume.

In French.

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6 May – 4 June

Leila Alaoui – Photography

Art & Exhibits

Centre des Arts

Leila Alaoui’s photography presents a humane, boundary-crossing vision that interrogates identity, migration and the lives of migrant workers. This exhibition brings together iconic series, rarely seen photographs and coherent photographic ensembles to reveal the dignity of her subjects and the visual language that frames their stories. Through portraiture and documentary practice, Alaoui explores gender, displacement and cultural interconnection with formal rigor and emotional clarity, forging intimate encounters that bridge histories and territories.

Opening: Wednesday 6 May, 18:30

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4 October 2025 – 23 May 2026

Sauvages – Behind the Scenes of Claude Barras’ Film

Art & Exhibits

Bibliothèque de la Cité

The exhibition “Sauvages” at the Cité Library invites visitors to delve into the behind-the-scenes of Claude Barras’s film. It is divided into three sections that cover the ecological and cultural aspects of Borneo, reveal the creative and production processes of the film, and immerse the audience in the filming atmosphere through never-before-seen photos and testimonials. Original documents, drawings, travel journals, sets, and figurines enhance this immersive experience.

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Geneva Classics

Visiting for the first time? A quick guide to the city’s top attractions.

MEG (Musée d’ethnographie de Genève)

The MEG is a renowned museum dedicated to the exploration and presentation of cultural diversity from around the world. Located in the heart of Geneva, it houses an extensive collection of over 80,000 objects, including artifacts, textiles, and artworks that highlight the rich traditions and histories of various communities. The museum emphasizes interactive and immersive exhibitions, engaging visitors with contemporary issues related to culture and identity.

Cool fact: The e-MEG app serves as a digital twin of the permanent exhibition, providing an audio guide and detailed descriptions along with photographs of all displayed objects.

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MAMCO (Museum of Contemporary Art)

– CLOSED FOR RENOVATION –

Since its opening in 1994, the MAMCO Geneva (Musée d’art moderne et contemporain) has staged 450 exhibitions with works dating from the 1960s to the present day. Mamco’s holdings include works by Christo, Martin Kippenberger, Jenny Holzer, Dan Flavin, Sarkis, Franz Erhard Walther and Sylvie Fleury, among many others.

Cool fact: The MAMCO is the epicenter of the “Nuit des Bains”, held three times a year. During this event, the district around the museum is transformed into a large gallery and attracts thousands of art lovers and sightseers each night.

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Ariana Museum

With a collection of 27,000 items from Switzerland, Europe and the Middle and Far East, and a witness to twelve centuries of ceramic art from the Middle Ages to modern times, the Ariana is one of Europe’s great museums specializing in glass and ceramics.

Cool fact: On the first Sunday of each month, the Ariana Museum opens its temporary exhibitions to the public.

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Meet Pierre Conesa

Jean Liermier

Become Sub-Optimal

Mon Cabrel préféré

Marion Mezadorian – Craquage

La Tectonique des Sentiments

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Art & Soin – Sublimations

Forza Silenziosa – Sofia Cacciapaglia

Short-Form Laboratory

Hé, Prométhée !

Leila Alaoui – Photography

Sauvages – Behind the Scenes of Claude Barras’ Film

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MEG (Musée d’ethnographie de Genève)

MAMCO (Museum of Contemporary Art)

– CLOSED FOR RENOVATION –

Ariana Museum

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– CLOSED FOR RENOVATION –

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