Temporary Exhibitions

Overview

Nestled in the heart of Geneva, Switzerland, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum serves as a poignant nexus for understanding the multifaceted world of humanitarian action. Beyond its compelling permanent collection, the museum distinguishes itself through its thoughtfully curated temporary exhibitions. These dynamic displays offer visitors fresh perspectives on critical global issues, evolving annually to bring new voices and challenging ideas into dialogue with the museum's core mission. Each temporary exhibition is designed to complement the foundational narrative of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, ensuring a continuously enriching and relevant visitor experience that delves into the human spirit's resilience and compassion.

History & Cultural Background

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum itself is a place of memory, creation, and debate, intrinsically linked to the city of Geneva as the birthplace of humanitarian action. The institution was founded to promote an understanding of the history, current affairs, and ongoing challenges of humanitarian efforts worldwide. While the permanent exhibition, 'The Humanitarian Adventure,' provides an immersive journey through 150 years of humanitarian history, addressing major challenges like defending human dignity, restoring family links, and reducing natural risks, the temporary exhibitions extend this exploration into contemporary contexts. They are not merely ancillary displays but integral components that encourage deeper reflection on how humanitarian action concerns us all, here and now, fostering a connection between historical struggles and present-day realities.

What Makes It Special

What truly sets the temporary exhibitions apart is their ability to engage with current social, artistic, and cultural issues through a humanitarian lens. Each year, a new theme or artist is chosen to offer diverse and often unexpected insights, providing a fresh layer of understanding to complex global narratives. These exhibitions frequently highlight contemporary artistic creation and offer immersive, participatory experiences, moving beyond traditional museum displays to encourage active engagement and personal reflection. They serve as a platform for experimentation and dialogue, often featuring collaborations with artists and cultural partners to examine humanitarian values and the state of humanitarian action around the world from unique vantage points.

Stories, Fun Facts & Local Details

A remarkable example of the museum's commitment to diverse storytelling is the exhibition 'Angélica Serech Pach'un Q'ijul (Temps entrelacés - Deep time),' scheduled from October 2025 to August 2026. This exhibition marks the first European solo show for Angélica Serech, a Maya Kaqchikel artist from Guatemala. It thoughtfully weaves together individual and collective memory, exploring the profound relationship between textiles and humanitarian action. Serech's work, utilizing self-built looms and ancestral techniques, reflects on her personal history, including her experience of the Guatemalan Civil War, and the restorative power of artistic creation. Such exhibitions are not only thought-provoking but also connect visitors to specific narratives, demonstrating how art can process trauma and contribute to healing. The museum also hosts an artist residency, further cultivating new works and fostering dialogue around humanitarian themes, ensuring a continuous stream of fresh, impactful perspectives.

Visitor Perspective

For the curious traveler, encountering the temporary exhibitions at the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum is an opportunity to delve into humanitarian issues beyond the conventional. It's a chance to witness how art, culture, and individual stories illuminate the challenges and triumphs of humanitarian efforts in our world today. Visitors can expect to find themselves challenged, moved, and ultimately inspired by the diverse interpretations of humanitarianism presented. The exhibitions are designed to be accessible and thought-provoking, prompting reflection on our shared humanity and the principles underpinning international humanitarian law. Whether you opt for a combined ticket covering both permanent and temporary displays or choose to focus solely on the temporary exhibition for a nominal fee, these rotating displays offer a unique and ever-changing dimension to one of Geneva's most significant cultural institutions, making each visit a potentially new and profound experience.