Historisches Museum Bern Musee Historique de Berne
Mission statement
Rooted in Bern – connected to the world
Who are we?
The Bernisches Historisches Museum is part of the historical and cultural memory of humankind. It preserves important parts of the cultural heritage of the City and State of Bern. It is a reservoir of knowledge and a medium for the history of Bern and for the linking of Bern to the rest of Switzerland and the wider world.
The Bernisches Historisches Museum is one of the most important museums of cultural history in Switzerland and focuses on history, archaeology and ethnography.
The Bernisches Historisches Museum contributes to the awareness of cultural identity, to the understanding of the present and the shaping of the future.
How did we come to exist?
The Bernisches Historisches Museum Foundation was established in 1889 by the Canton, City and Burgher Community of Bern. Since 1894 the museum has been located at Helvetiaplatz in Berne. Besides the three original trustees, the communities of the Regional Conference Bern-Mittelland have also been involved in the funding of the museum since 1998.
What do we do?
The Bernisches Historisches Museum is a high-quality archive of cultural goods which collects, preserves, researches and conveys. Its varied collections include unique items of international importance.
The Bernisches Historisches Museum carefully expands its collections following a specific concept. It stores its holdings securely and is fully aware of its responsibility towards future generations. The substantial collections are continuously inventoried and thus made available to educators and scientists.
The Bernisches Historisches Museum provides insight into the everyday lives of people from various historical eras and cultures. contexts. It promotes the interaction with history and cultures and highlights the overall contexts.
The exhibitions of the Bernisches Historisches Museum offer adventure, learning and experience. They are attractive and of a high standard. Permanent and temporary exhibitions are of regional, national and international renown.
Who do we work for?
The Bernisches Historisches Museum serves both the general public and the science community. It addresses visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Its programme incorporates the interests and needs of a wide audience. It maintains partnerships with other cultural institutions, museums and universities in Switzerland and abroad.
How do we work?
The Bernisches Historisches Museum is a non-profit enterprise with a modern and sustainable structure, efficient processes and effective infrastructure.
The Bernisches Historisches Museum attaches importance to its staff’s own initiative, sense of responsibility and willingness to provide a service. It promotes a company culture that is based on trust, cooperation and efficiency, and is constantly developing further.
The Bernisches Historisches Museum’s staff members have different fields of expertise and work closely together. The collaboration is based on mutual appreciation, trust and respect. Problems are solved in a fair and cooperative manner. The staff members learn from and with each other and constantly seek to improve themselves.
Executive staff members of the Bernisches Historisches Museum view leadership as an important part of their work. They lead their teams in a transparent, credible and target-oriented manner and promote the various strengths of their staff members.
The Bernisches Historisches Museum fulfils its remit by using the public funds made available to it in a responsible and economically sound manner, by attracting third parties to support its projects and by striving to increase its own earnings.