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Interview with Gilles Meyer, manager of "Pass-Musées"
The Association of the Passport of the Museums of the Upper Rhine Region has its headquarters in Basle. It offers the "Pass-Musées", a card giving you free entry to almost all the museums of the Dreyeckland region. We met its manager, Gilles MEYER, who gives us more information on the association.
Gilles MEYER Directeur du Pass Musée
We met at the "Cour du Roy" hotel in Saint-Louis where a welcome ray of sunshine allowed us to sit on the patio.
Franz MATT (FM)
How was the association born?
Gilles MEYER (GM)
Curators of some Upper Rhine museums came up with the idea. They wanted to create a system similar to the ICOM card which covers museums throughout the world. the project was raised at the Upper Rhine Conference which is a cross-border organisation concerned with education, transport, as well as environmental and cultural issues.
The organisation carries out transborder project which are subsidised by the European Union. A study was commissioned and concluded as to the feasibility of the project of a card covering the museums in the Upper Rhine region.
FM
Who is legally responsible for the project?
GM
Following the study in 1998, a non-profit Swiss association was set up. Its name is the Association of the Passport of the Museums of the Upper Rhine Region and functions in a similar way to a 1901-type association in France.
FM
Who financed the project?
GM
the Upper Rhine Conference contributed 50% of the budget (estimated at 1,200,000 € over 5 years) at the start. The four Swiss "cantons" of Argovie, Basel-Land, Basel-Stadt and Jura, the German areas of Baden-Würtenberg and Rheinland-Pfalz, as well as the "Conseil Régional d'Alsace" and the DRAC in France financed the remaining 50%.
FM
1,200,000 € over 5 years. But, if I am correct, your association has been in existence since 1998 which means that that time has now elapsed... so, who finances you, today?
GM
The "Pass-Musées" is the only cultural project of the DRAC which finances itself. Every year, the sale of passes and private donations enable us to run withoutany further public subsidies. And we are quite a bit proud to be the only DRAC project that managed to become self-financing.
FM
so, the "Pass-Musées" gives you access to all the museums in the Upper Rhine region.
GM
As a matter of fact, to date you have access to 170 museums, sites, gardens, castles and fortresses throughout the region in France, Switzerland and Germany. A few museums require a financial contribution to the visit, which however never exceeds 3.50 € or 5 CHF and is reinvested in its entirety into the museum. This is particularly the case for museums which display costly exhibitions.
FM
how many museums arether to be found in the Dreyeckland?
GM
40 or therabouts if I am right. and you find more than half of them in Switzerland and the City of Basle.
FM
Are there several formulae on offer?
GM
Currently there are 2:
- The Annual Pass
For one: 61 € or 94 CHF
For two: 106 € or 166 CHF
Discounted rate (student, unemployed, disabled): 53 € or 83 CHF
The Annual Pass enables 5 children aged under 16 to accompany the pass owner(s).
- You may also purchase a pass which is valid for a month and whereby you can elect 4 visiting days a your convenience.
Price for one: 30 € or 47 CHF
We are debating whether to offer more options. you will be informed in time for the start of next season.
FM
Where can we get those passes?
GM
That's very easy. They're on sale at each participating museum and at numerous partner selling outlets.
By the way, let me whole-heartedly thank our partners who actively support the "Pass-Musées":
- COOP (German-speaking Swiss euivalent of the English Coop company)
- NOVARTIS (English site; pharmaceutical company - Swiss)
- CIBA (English site;chemical company - Swiss)
- FNAC.COM (French site; equivalent of Amazon)
- BASEL + www.basel.ch (Official site of the Basle city Council)
Links
The "Pass Musées" website
Franz MATT (FM)
How was the association born?
Gilles MEYER (GM)
Curators of some Upper Rhine museums came up with the idea. They wanted to create a system similar to the ICOM card which covers museums throughout the world. the project was raised at the Upper Rhine Conference which is a cross-border organisation concerned with education, transport, as well as environmental and cultural issues.
The organisation carries out transborder project which are subsidised by the European Union. A study was commissioned and concluded as to the feasibility of the project of a card covering the museums in the Upper Rhine region.
FM
Who is legally responsible for the project?
GM
Following the study in 1998, a non-profit Swiss association was set up. Its name is the Association of the Passport of the Museums of the Upper Rhine Region and functions in a similar way to a 1901-type association in France.
FM
Who financed the project?
GM
the Upper Rhine Conference contributed 50% of the budget (estimated at 1,200,000 € over 5 years) at the start. The four Swiss "cantons" of Argovie, Basel-Land, Basel-Stadt and Jura, the German areas of Baden-Würtenberg and Rheinland-Pfalz, as well as the "Conseil Régional d'Alsace" and the DRAC in France financed the remaining 50%.
FM
1,200,000 € over 5 years. But, if I am correct, your association has been in existence since 1998 which means that that time has now elapsed... so, who finances you, today?
GM
The "Pass-Musées" is the only cultural project of the DRAC which finances itself. Every year, the sale of passes and private donations enable us to run withoutany further public subsidies. And we are quite a bit proud to be the only DRAC project that managed to become self-financing.
FM
so, the "Pass-Musées" gives you access to all the museums in the Upper Rhine region.
GM
As a matter of fact, to date you have access to 170 museums, sites, gardens, castles and fortresses throughout the region in France, Switzerland and Germany. A few museums require a financial contribution to the visit, which however never exceeds 3.50 € or 5 CHF and is reinvested in its entirety into the museum. This is particularly the case for museums which display costly exhibitions.
FM
how many museums arether to be found in the Dreyeckland?
GM
40 or therabouts if I am right. and you find more than half of them in Switzerland and the City of Basle.
FM
Are there several formulae on offer?
GM
Currently there are 2:
- The Annual Pass
For one: 61 € or 94 CHF
For two: 106 € or 166 CHF
Discounted rate (student, unemployed, disabled): 53 € or 83 CHF
The Annual Pass enables 5 children aged under 16 to accompany the pass owner(s).
- You may also purchase a pass which is valid for a month and whereby you can elect 4 visiting days a your convenience.
Price for one: 30 € or 47 CHF
We are debating whether to offer more options. you will be informed in time for the start of next season.
FM
Where can we get those passes?
GM
That's very easy. They're on sale at each participating museum and at numerous partner selling outlets.
By the way, let me whole-heartedly thank our partners who actively support the "Pass-Musées":
- COOP (German-speaking Swiss euivalent of the English Coop company)
- NOVARTIS (English site; pharmaceutical company - Swiss)
- CIBA (English site;chemical company - Swiss)
- FNAC.COM (French site; equivalent of Amazon)
- BASEL + www.basel.ch (Official site of the Basle city Council)
Links
The "Pass Musées" website