Thursday 4 June, 19:00

Claire Messud

Booking Required

Claire Messud, American novelist and former Harvard professor, is the author of acclaimed novels including The Emperor’s Children and The Burning Girl. Her international upbringing informs her writing on identity, family and memory. In conversation with Kasmira Jefford, she discusses her latest novel, This Strange Eventful History, which traces one family’s history across generations, revealing interwoven perspectives, withheld secrets and recurring themes. The discussion examines narrative voice, memory and the ethics of fictionalising family.

In English.

Grand-Rue 11,
1204 Genève

Array

5 – 7 June

Éclats! — Geneva Literary Festival

Lectures & Workshops

Federal Studio

Éclats! gathers leading francophone writers in short, staged confrontations that examine contemporary issues. Each evening pairs two authors — Giuliano Da Empoli and Hugo Micheron; Asma Mhalla and Hervé Le Tellier; Esther Teillard and Frédéric Beigbeder; Kamel Daoud and François‑Henri Désérable — in moderated discussions investigating global disorder, the ethics of AI, gender and style, and migration and storytelling. Artistic direction is by François‑Henri Désérable. Capacity is limited to 80 spectators per evening.

In French.

Array

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.

Array

Friday 5 June, 09:00

World Environment Day — Now For Climate

Lectures & Workshops

Environment House

This public celebration examines global climate challenges through the “Now For Climate” campaign, exploring how systems change—economies, governance and international cooperation—can accelerate mitigation and adaptation. It highlights multilateral Geneva’s role in coordinating policy, showcases dialogues and forums that build momentum toward the UN climate conference, and outlines practical pathways to repair societies’ relationship with the climate while pursuing justice and resilience.

In English.

Array

Saturday 6 June, 14:00

Sketching Over Coffee

Lectures & Workshops

Bibliothèque de Genève

Malandro, artist and illustrator, leads a practical workshop focused on observational sketching and illustration. He demonstrates quick-study techniques to capture form, gesture and mood with economy and expressiveness.

After a brief tour of the exhibition that inspired the session, participants explore cafés as motifs, practising composition, line work and shading. The workshop examines how simple marks can reveal atmosphere, social interaction and the character of everyday objects.

Array

28 January – 23 December

Our Biodiversity: Memory game

Lectures & Workshops

Jardin botanique

This interactive memory challenge invites participants to test their memory while exploring practical ways to preserve biodiversity based on Geneva’s municipal strategy. Players match “before-and-after” images that illustrate individual and institutional actions, and each correct pair reveals concise information explaining the measure. The activity examines themes such as habitat restoration, species-friendly practices, urban greening and policy responses, helping participants understand the impact and rationale behind everyday and organisational conservation choices.

Array

28 January – 23 December

Create Your Own Rousseau-Style Herbarium

Lectures & Workshops

Jardin botanique

This workshop explores the traditional process of assembling a herbarium specimen, inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s collections. Participants learn scientific techniques for pressing and mounting dried plants on old paper, practice botanical labelling and nomenclature, and select specimens to create a personal herbarium sheet. The session examines preservation methods, identification principles and the historical context of Rousseau’s approach, combining practical skills with scientific insight to produce a lasting botanical object.

In French.

Array

Oops! It seems there
are no events matching your selection!

Please adjust your criteria to see more results.

Claire Messud