Permanent ice, a vast white emptiness, a cold climate that is hostile to life – such motifs shape our image of the Arctic and Antarctic. These concepts, however, are historically informed and in many ways culturally constructed.

One of the essential components is the fascination for the conquest of the North and South Poles fuelled by literature and the media. This conquest was the final chapter in the European “Age of Discoveries”, during which Europeans travelled, recorded, mapped, subjugated and colonised the globe. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the imperial race to the poles was set up as a trial of strength and endurance between the “great” nations – and as a stage for the masculine heroes of modernity. Switzerland has its own relationship with the polar world. In the 19th century it developed scientific expertise in the study of ice landscapes. A special bond with the polar regions arose through a shared experience: ice, thought to be eternal, can also be found on the Alpine glaciers and just as in the Arctic, it is no longer “permanent”.

Please note that this event will be taking place in German. 

An evening at the museum – Greenland
In conversation with experts and with audience participation, this series of events seeks to develop new and multi-faceted perspectives on the colonial legacy of the Greenland collection. The subject matter discussed, and the insight gained from the events will be fed back into the exhibition “Greenland ahoy! Perspectives on a colonial legacy”. As a consequence, it will be in a constant state of flux and will allow us to gather a new understanding and reappraise how Switzerland views Greenland today.

The exhibition “Greenland ahoy! Perspectives on a colonial legacy” will open its doors from 5 pm. (Admission is included in the ticket price.)
The bar will be open from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

Admission fee: CHF 16/person
Friends of the Museum, students, OAP/disabled, holders of a KulturLegi and persons with refugee status (N, S and F permits) can avail of a 50% discount. Raiffeisen, Swiss Museum Pass, Kultur-GA, “Bern Museum Card 24h”, “Bern Museum Card 48h” and “Swiss Travel Pass” will not be valid.

Sign up

You can sign up for the event here. Drop-in guests are also welcome, as long as there's space.

Greenland x Greenland 
With your ticket, you can also explore the exhibition “Greenland. Everything will change” at the ALPS Swiss Alpine Museum for free!