Founded in 1818, the Société de Lecture (SDL) is a cultural institution nestled in Geneva’s Old Town. Housed in an 18th-century building, the SDL serves as a hub for relaxed intellectual exchange. Functioning as a library with an extensive book collection, the Société de Lecture also hosts diverse cultural events, including a full rich program of literary conferences, debates, workshops, and even yoga classes. Notably, it offers a diverse program for children.
Author Elisa Shua Dusapin presents a reflective talk based on her book Sauf la frontière, which recounts encounters across Lebanon and Jordan and reflections sparked by events near the Israel border. Free from moral simplifications, she examines violence, memory and movement with a luminous yet somber voice. The discussion explores how personal travel and literary inquiry illuminate complex regional realities and ethical ambiguity.
In French.
Explore a lively children’s book fair where authors, storytellers and illustrators invite young readers to dive into colourful stories and hands-on drawing sessions. Children will meet creators, listen to interactive storytelling, try simple illustration activities, and discover new picture books. The programme encourages curiosity, imaginative play and early literacy through lively voices, bright images and tactile workshops.
In French. Kids of all ages.
Katie Kitamura, a New York–based novelist, journalist and art critic, discusses her novel Audition, a bold, stark, genre‑bending work marked by controlled menace and visionary impact. The conversation examines the book’s themes of desire, identity and ambiguous relationships, and explores Kitamura’s narrative strategies and critical approach. Moderated by Raphaëlle Liebaert, the session offers close reading and insight into contemporary fiction and craft.
In English.
Thierry Breton, French business executive, corporate director, politician and author, presents his new book The Ten Sacrifices That Shaped France (Buchet-Chastel / Plon, 2025). Drawing on historical cases, Breton examines ten moments when France relinquished a core national value and traces their consequences up to today’s political landscape. The lecture offers a critical analysis of republican ideals, sovereignty and civic debate, inviting reflection on how history informs current policy and public discourse.
In French.
Step into a whimsical hat-filled world where a playful puppeteer searches for her missing cat and unlocks tiny universes atop her head. Mam’zelle Chapeau pulls one wild hat after another from round boxes: a spinning house, a blooming flower, a watching tree and a sunny beach. A tiny companion, Bibi, rattles marbles and scampers across musical hats as scenes unfurl and fade. A gentle, visual puppet show that sparks imagination and sensory discovery.
In French. Kids ages 2–5.
Choreographer Michèle Anne De Mey and filmmaker Jaco Van Dormael reunite to present Kiss & Cry, a compact performance that invents a ‘nano-dance’ language. Using finger dance, live theatrical presence and real-time cinematic projection, the piece explores tiny lives and intimate narratives through precise movement and cinematic framing. De Mey’s dramaturgical rigor and Van Dormael’s cinematic imagination create a poetic, tactile mise en scène. The performance is moderated by Joséphine de Weck.
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Culture, curated weekly.
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