Kunsthaus Zürich Reports 513,162 Visitors in 2024, Reduces Deficit Amid Stabilization Push
The Facts
The Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft held its 130th annual general meeting on May 26, 2025, where members approved the 2024 annual report and financial statements by a large majority. The Kunsthaus Zürich reported 513,162 admissions in 2024, maintaining its status as Switzerland's most-visited art museum, with strong demand for exhibitions including "Wong/van Gogh" and "Marina Abramović." The annual deficit narrowed slightly to CHF –1,529,489 from CHF –1,585,979 in 2023, approximately 50% better than originally budgeted. Re-elected Chair Dr. Philipp Hildebrand and board member Dr. Conrad Ulrich each received three-year terms. The museum applied for an additional subsidy from the City of Zurich in October 2024, with a decision expected in summer 2025, as operating costs have risen markedly since the opening of the Kunsthaus extension.
The Signal
The structural deficit remains a key challenge, with the museum targeting a balanced budget by 2027 through a public-private partnership model. A recently announced endowment by Marianne and Martin Haefner, with initial capital of CHF 30 million, establishes the "Foundation for Major Exhibitions at the Kunsthaus Zürich," designed to fund at least one internationally significant exhibition annually and open to additional donations. The museum is also developing new partnerships and innovative financing models to grow private income alongside public support. New guidelines have been agreed with the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection, with details released separately. For collectors and institutions, the Haefner endowment signals a strategic shift toward long-term, growth-oriented private funding that could serve as a model for other European museums facing structural deficits.
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- People: Philipp Hildebrand, Conrad Ulrich, Marianne Haefner, Martin Haefner
- Museums: Kunsthaus Zürich
- Locations: Zurich
- Prices: CHF –1,529,489, CHF –1,585,979, CHF 30 million
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