Kunsthalle Bern is proud to introduce a pioneering code of conduct—a comprehensive living framework for a contemporary art institution such as a Kunsthalle that articulates its ethical commitments across governance, programming, public engagement, and working culture.
The document was co-authored by the director and the institution’s team in an effort to transparently distribute authorship across all levels of operation, with the support of Piergiorgio Pepe, a senior expert in ethics and compliance within the contemporary cultural sector.
This thirty-page document comes after two years of reflection, reorganisation, and reimagining the possibilities of institution-building in contemporary times through the initiative Fermenting Kunsthalle. The goal is to work towards an institution that is not only accessible, but also creates space for collective practices of care where new ideas for social and ecological justice can emerge.
The programme identified the “seeds” that will be cultivated in the coming years, defining why we do what we do, how we do it, and for whom. At the same time, the institution continues to strengthen its “kin”: the network of organisations, collectives, members, partners, and institutions that shape and influence its ways of working.
This code aims to bring colleagues across the field into conversation about how institutions operate.
Structured around themes including transparent and independent governance, sustainability, curatorial integrity, care for artists and visitors, diversity and inclusion, the protection of artistic and curatorial freedom, and the rejection of harassment and discrimination, the code establishes shared principles and operational responsibilities for everyone working for or engaging with the institution.
More than just a policy document, the code of conduct reflects Kunsthalle Bern’s commitment to accountability, respect, and institutional integrity at every level of its activities.
iLiana Fokianaki, director of Kunsthalle Bern, describes the initiative as “a working tool to be updated regularly, with the aim of fostering an environment grounded in trust, dialogue, and collective responsibility, while creating a working culture that embodies our values. We truly hope it will be a meaningful contribution to our field and our community.”
The code of conduct will be published on our website, first in English and then in German and French, on June 18, during the annual summer party of Kunsthalle Bern, celebrating the cycle of solo exhibitions of Jota Mombaça and Tai Shani, the annual artistic RESPONSES contribution, featuring a performance by Ivan Cheng, as well as the new public art initiative Horizon of Forms inaugurated by Vanessa Billy.
