Culture and Arts at the Caux Palace
ARTS & CULTURE AT THE CAUX PALACE
Caux Initiatives of Change has a long-standing association with the arts, recognizing the power of artistic expression to promote understanding, reconciliation, and positive social change.
For concerts, residencies, exhibitions and theatrical representations, the Caux Palace offers a unique and inspiring venue which is guaranteed to create an unforgettable experience for your audience.
Our dedicated spaces include:
- our 385-seat fully- equipped baroque-style theatre
- the Main Hall, also equipped with a more informal stage
- the Belle Epoque expo room
Residencies for artists
The Caux Palace would like to make its facilities available to cultural organisations or artists for residencies (subject to availability). The exceptional geographical location of the Caux Palace, overlooking Lake Geneva and close to Geneva, makes it ideal for retreats, research and creative residencies, preferably in the field of writing and design in general.
We have a range of spaces available for this purpose (meeting and work rooms, lounges, music studio, theatre, guestrooms).
For further information, please contact Anne-Catherine Sutermeister: EMAIL
Contact us
For more information on cultural and artistic events at the Caux Palace, please contact us: EMAIL
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DISCOVER OUR SUMMER PROGRAMME 2025
Exhibitions
"Democracy? What democracy?!"
An exhibition with press cartoons by Godfrey MWAMPEMBWA (Nairobi, Kenya) and Nadia KHIARI, alias Willis from Tunis (Tunisia).
- Location: Salle Belle Epoque, Caux Palace – Rue du Panorama 2 – 1824 Caux
- Dates: 8 July - 14 September 2025
- Opening Hours: Thursday - Friday – Saturday – Sunday (14:00 - 18:00)
- FREE ADMISSION
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
At a time when the core values of democracy are being radically challenged, the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation is presenting an exhibition of around forty cartoons on this theme, by the cartoonists Gado (Godfrey MWAMPEMBWA) and Nadia KHIARI, also Willis from Tunis.
Through the sharp, ironic and sometimes cynical eyes of these two artists from the African continent, the exhibition shows snapshots of European and world political events in recent years.
The drawings reveal how democracy has become a concept emptied of its original meaning, and misappropriated, flouted, reinterpreted or exploited. Like freedom, democracy is fast becoming a hackneyed term, whose deeper meaning is lost in the twists and turns of an increasingly elusive global political chessboard.
Organised in collaboration with Freedom Cartoonists - Dessins pour la liberté
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Godfrey MWAMPEMBWA, known professionally as Gado, was born in 1969, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is a graphic journalist, independent editorial cartoonist, animator, and TV producer. His work has appeared in The EastAfrican, The Standard, and Daily Nation (Kenya), Le Monde and Courrier International (France), Deutsche Welle (Germany), The Continent (South Africa), among others. Gado is the co-founder of Buni Media, an independent multimedia company based in Nairobi. A trained classical animator from Vancouver Film School, he is the creator and producer of the popular weekly satirical puppet show The XYZ Show, which has aired on Kenyan television since 2009.
He is the recipient of several prestigious awards. In 2007, he was named a Prince Claus Laureate, and in 2011, he received the Visionaries Award from the Ford Foundation for his innovative work on the frontlines of key social issues. In 2016, he was awarded the Cartooning for Peace International Editorial Cartoon Award, and in 2018, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism from the Kenya National Human Rights Commission. Gado was also named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Africa by NewAfrican magazine in both 2014 and 2016. In May 2022, he was honored by the French government with the title Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).
Gado is a member of the Cartoonists Rights Network (CRN), Cartooning for Peace, and the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ). He has been a fellow at the Bellagio Center (2016) and the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) in 2024.
Nadia KHIARI, also known as Willis from Tunis, is from Tunisia. Willis from Tunis, the iconic cartoon cat, was born on 13 January 2011, during a televised speech by the deposed Tunisian president, Ben Ali, who—ironically—promised freedom of expression. Originally created as a way for the author to share her reactions to Tunisia's historic moment with her close circle on social media, the cat quickly evolved into a sharp, satirical commentator on current events. Since then, the daily chronicle has continued without interruption.
Nadia Khiari is a press cartoonist, a visual arts teacher at the secondary level, and a professor of press cartooning at Sciences Po in Menton. She has published several collections of her drawings and contributed to numerous collaborative works. Since 2011, her work has appeared regularly in Siné Mensuel (including international news and a column on astronomy), and she also publishes in Courrier International. She sits on the board of directors of Cartooning for Peace.
Her work has been widely recognized: she received the Honoré Daumier Prize at the second Cartooning for Peace meeting in Caen (2012), was named Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Liège (2013), and won the International Prize for Political Satire in Forte dei Marmi (October 2014). In 2016, she received the irreverent "Couilles au cul" award at the Off Off Off Festival in Angoulême, and in 2018, the Sokol Prize from the Caricature Museum in Krems, Austria. (photo: Karim Mrad)
Interested in more? Check out the special event on cultural mediation with the artist Gado (tbc) and Anne-Catherine Sutermeister, Head of Community Engagement Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change (10 July, 17:00 - 18:30)
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"Dialogues on Humanity"
An exhibition produced thanks to a partnership between Photo Elysée - Lausanne, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
- Location: Outdoor Esplanade in the gardens of the Caux Palace – Rue du Panorama 2 – 1824 Caux
- Dates: 8 July - 14 September 2025
- Opening Hours: Thursday - Friday – Saturday – Sunday (14:00 - 18:00)
- FREE ADMISSION
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
How can photography help us understand humanitarian principles? Humanitarian crises around the world make the headlines every day. The images associated with these tragedies are often linked to tears, suffering, hunger, despair, loneliness, separation and desolation. We sometimes feel powerless and overwhelmed by the images of crises, violence, armed conflicts and natural disasters.
This contemporary art exhibition is a reaction to these feelings. The three partners mentioned above have developed a concept that allows us to take a step back from the images that surround us and to pause, reflect and feel. The idea is to provide a space for discussion about humanitarian principles, and to share opinions on the evolution of the world in which we live.
Interested in more? Check out the special event on cultural mediation with Yvan Loehle from the Swiss Development Coorperation and Anne-Catherine Sutermeister, Head of Community Engagement Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change (9 July, 14:30 - 16:00)
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"Nuclear Cries Through Innocent Eyes"
- Location: Caux Palace
- Dates: 8 July - 1 August 2025
- Opening Hours: Thursday - Friday – Saturday – Sunday (14:00 - 18:00)
- FREE ADMISSION
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Nuclear Cries Through Innocent Eyes is a powerful art exhibit that brings to life the emotional and generational impact of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands—seen and expressed through the eyes of young Pacific Islanders.
This exhibit is a collaboration between the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and the Marshallese Educational Initiative (MEI), a not-for-profit based in Springdale, Arkansas—the heart of the largest Marshallese community outside the islands.
As part of its nuclear justice advocacy, MEI empowers youth to explore the legacy of nuclear testing through creative expression. The artworks featured here were produced during MEI-led Nuclear Climate Art Workshops, where children learned about their history, discussed its relevance today, and translated their feelings into collaborative visual art. These striking pieces reflect the pain, resilience, and hopes of a generation still living with the consequences of nuclear injustice.
This exhibit honors their voices and ensures that their stories continue to be seen and heard on the international stage—at the UN and beyond.
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Concerts & Musical Performances
Caux Democracy Forum - Opening Ceremony (8 July 2025 - 14:30 CEST)
JEAN-MARC VIGNOLI, Violonist
Jean-Marc Vignoli is a musician and lives in France. After training as both a violinist and an engineer, and a long career in industry, he (re)discovered the path to his own creative expression. For the last ten years or so, he has been living and sharing the mysteries of sound, improvisation and creativity and has also recorded several CDs. Jean-Marc Vignoli describes himself as a 'tailor-made' violinist. The music he plays is inspired by the message, the mood and the moment in which it takes place. Having become aware of the therapeutic dimension of music, he has turned his attention to the dimension of sound that soothes, relieves and harmonises, helping to transform and heal the human being in intimate contact with nature.
Caux Democracy Forum - Opening Ceremony (8 July 2025 - 14:30 CEST)
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LICIA CHERY, Author, Singer, Composer, Publisher & Presenter
At the age of 17, Licia Chery self-produced her first album. At 24, she raised €100,000 through crowdfunding. A year later, she took to the stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival and went on to perform at numerous other festivals. Singer, composer, TV presenter, novelist – she tries her hand at everything with the same boldness. In 2020, she became the first black woman to host a daily programme on RTS. In 2021, she published Noir en couleurs (Favre), a powerful novel, after making a lasting impression with Tichéri a les cheveux crépus, a highly acclaimed children's book. In 2023, she founded Les Éditions Visibles, a publishing house dedicated to stories and voices overlooked by traditional literature. At 40, Licia proves that you can be multifaceted, free and daring – not to impress, but to inspire. (photo: Markus Frömml)
RAOUL BAUMANN, Composer, Arranger & Producer
Raoul Baumann is a multifaceted composer, arranger and producer. Trained in classical piano, he attended the Lausanne jazz school and graduated in composition from the Swiss Jazz School in Bern. He moves with ease between the stage, the studio and composition.He composes for dance, theatre and orchestras, plays rock, hip-hop, funk and French chanson, and performs at prestigious venues such as the Paléo, the Montreux Jazz Café and the Arena in Geneva – as well as in China, Germany and Thailand.Since 2013, he has been accompanying Licia Chery as a full band member, and since 2019, he has been at her side for her tours in Germany and her acoustic concerts.Co-founder of the Glo-Gospel choir, he collaborates with Swiss and international artists and continues to write and arrange for large ensembles and intimate projects. (photo: Facebook)
Caux Democracy Forum - Opening Ceremony (8 July 2025 - 20:30 CEST).
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Caux Inner Development Goals Forum (31 July 2025)
GIULIA DABALA (Switzerland/Italy), Singer & Producer
Giulia Dabalà isn’t just an artist—she’s a force of nature. Shaped by her childhood in Myanmar, the Swiss-Italian singer and producer channels her global roots into a genre-bending sound that blends alt-pop, folk traditions, and electronic experimentation. After her debut EP Voices (2018) and first album Gold (2022), she released Cruda (2025)—a bold exploration of female anger, identity, and emotional complexity. Her main weapon is her voice—raw and unapologetic, telling stories of femininity, resilience, inviting you to turn vulnerability into a strength.
Caux Inner Development Goals Forum (31 July - 20:00 CEST)
The concerts of Licia Chery/Raoul Baumann and Guilia Dabala are organised with the support of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation.
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DISCOVER OUR PAST EVENTS
Exhibitions
"ABOUT DEMOCRACY..." - CARTOONS BY PATRICK CHAPPATTE"
Press cartoons have become a recognised genre: inevitably subjective, they are artistic and journalistic representations of current events and reflect the artistic creativity of their creator, who uses drawing, typography and graphics to express his or her interpretation of the news in all its forms. The drawings on displayed at the Caux Palace in 2024 showcased the wide range of Patrick Chappatte's artistic creativity. Patrick Chappatte was born in Pakistan in 1967 to a mother of Lebanese origin and a Swiss father. Published in the world's leading newspapers, he quickly made a name for himself with his incisive and caustic take on current affairs in Europe and around the world. He has worked for Le Temps, the NZZ, Der Spiegel, Le Canard enchaîné and The New York Times. He chairs the Freedom Cartoonist Foundation, inspired by Plantu and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan, and is involved in a number of initiatives to promote peace and democracy around the world. The cartoons displayed at the Caux Palace in July 2024 reveal the full complexity of press cartoons and, more particularly, the humour and art of Patrick Chappatte! (photo: Matthieu Zellweger/cartoon: P. Chappatte)
15 - 27 July 2024: Main Hall (4th floor), Caux Palace
"VOYAGE EN TERRE HUMAINE" - AN EXHIBITION OF STONEWARE SCULPTURES BY SYLVIE ESQUERRÉ
Sylvie Esquerré's motto is: "Life is not as it is portrayed ... it is as you colour it!" After teaching mathematics, Sylvie Esquerré has been passionately devoting herself for over 10 years to wood and stoneware sculpture, two materials she often likes to combine. Various training courses with internationally-renowned ceramists such as Alberto Bustos, Stuart Williamson for modelling, Patrick Buté for research into high-temperature glazes and Anne Le Hénaff for raku have enabled her to develop her knowledge and practices, and choose her own artistic approach. She is particularly passionate about creating pieces that explore both organic and abstract forms, as well as original textures and finishes. In the future she hopes to continue perfecting her skills, to persevere in her experiments with oxides, enamels, engobes and terra sigillata, and to develop her communication skills to be able to better share her passion and her values.
9 July - 27 July 2024: Salle Belle Epoque (4th floor)
"FAIRE LA PAIRES" - PHOTO EXHIBITION
Action-Parrainages and l'association suisse PAIRES work hand in hand to promote encounters and the creation of links between people seeking refuge in Switzerland and people from the host society. When paths cross, friendships are forged and life paths can change. In 2016 and 2017, in response to the growing influx of refugees, projects were launched to link people who had been living in Switzerland for a long time with families, young people, men and women in exile. The aim was to get to know each other, overcome prejudices, support new arrivals in their integration and start to build together this part of the country that we share, be it for a short or a long time.
Action-Parrainages and PAIRES (Projet pour l'Aide à l'Inclusion des Réfugiés-e-s en Suisse) have similar goals and are working together to achieve them. As a tribute to how far they have come, the travelling exhibition "Faire la PAIRES", organised with the support of Fonds lausannois pour l’intégration, unveils some of these pairs - people who have known each other for 3 years, 3 months or... 3 days.
9 July - 27 July 2024: Belle Epoque (4th floor)
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Music & Concerts
SWISS ALPHORN TRIO - EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS
On 7 and 8 September 2024, the Caux Palace opened its doors in glorious sunshine for the 2024 edition of the European Heritage Days.
Having been selected as one of the five ‘must-see’ historic sites in the Canton of Vaud, we were delighted to welcome hundreds of enthusiastic visitors to the Caux Palace who took part in guided tours, enjoyed the exceptional views and magnificent gardens and listened to the Swiss Alphorn Trio, which combines traditional music with modern sounds.
Fresh, cheeky, virtuosic, diverse: The three musicians of the Swiss Alphorn Trio are convincing with their both modern yet traditional alphorn playing. The Swiss Alphorn Trio was born while the three musicians studied at the Bern University of the Arts. Since then, the trio has performed at various locations in Switzerland as well as in Europe and overseas. The three young musicians give the alphorn a youthful touch while playing a wide repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary music. Even traditional alphorn music holds a large role in their repertoire. A broad repertoire and lively interpretations make this Swiss Alphorn Trio a special experience.
7 + 8 September 2024, Caux Palace gardens
SOLO VIOLIN: HYUNG JOON WON
Hyung Joon Won is a South Korean violinist trained at the Juilliard School. In 1990, he performed at the World Economic Forum which celebrated the 1990 reunification of East and West Germany. This inspired him to think of music as a medium of reconciliation.
In 2009, with the hope of creating a joint North and South Korea orchestra, he founded the Lindenbaum Festival Orchestra.
Since 2009, he is planning to hold a joint orchestra concert between the Koreas. Hyung believes that eventually, his dreams will come true. His relentless efforts towards making his dream a reality is captured in the documentary film named “9 at 38”.
17 July 2024: Caux Democracy Forum, Caux Palace Theatre
FOLK-POP: NOLA KIN
Nola Kin is all about embracing her inner chaos and staying true to herself. The Zurich-based singer-songwriter brings raw energy to her performances.
With a powerful voice and a unique guitar style, backed by a band that can range from four to seven members, including horn sections, she creates an electrifying atmosphere on stage.
Nola Kin is an overthinker with a brain that does wild things, which mostly inspired her latest EP, „Mayhem“. Inspired by artists like Blake Mills, Bon Iver, and Dijon, her music blends Indie folk, soul, country, and Americana into a lush sound with attitude. For Nola Kin, music is therapy—a way to let go and be herself. From the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival to venues in Copenhagen, Nola Kin's performances have left audiences captivated. She was nominated for the "Artist Award" at the Swiss Music Awards, an honor reserved for exceptional musicians.
This concert at the Caux Democracy Forum 2024 was organised with the support of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation. (photo: Andrin Fretz)
15 July 2024: Opening Ceremony Caux Democracy Forum - Caux Palace Theatre
JAZZ: GÖKSU SANDIKCI QUINTET
Born in Istanbul, Göksu Sandıkçı's journey is a captivating blend of two worlds: the structured realm of Electronics Engineering and the soul-stirring realm of music. From her earliest days, she found herself drawn to melodies, serving as the lead singer in orchestras during her primary school years.
It was there that her passion for music first took root, blossoming into a desire to explore the depths of jazz. In 2014, Göksu's jazz odyssey truly began when she attended Sibel Köse’s Jazz Workshop, marking the inception of a lifelong love affair with the genre. Fueling her ambition, she completed the Jazz Certificate Program at Bahcesehir University, solidifying her commitment and quest for musical excellence.
This led her to traverse Europe, studying under the tutelage of esteemed jazz mentors. Each chord progression and improvisation became a brushstroke on the canvas of her artistry, shaping her unique voice and style. Her thirst for knowledge and artistic growth has taken her across the globe, getting various education in Poland, Italy, the UK, and the USA. Göksu had opportunities to showcase her talent not only at prestigious jazz clubs and festivals in Turkey, but also international ones such as Veneto Jazz in Italy, Mau Mau in London, San Diego Art Museum and recently in jazz clubs of Switzerland. Now residing in Switzerland, Göksu brings her eclectic music taste to the forefront, blending jazz standards with elements of funk, blues, R&B, and soul.
As she took the stage in Caux, her music accompanied the softness of the sunset...and even a rainbow which made a surprise appearance. (photo: Iremnur Demir Esen)
Göksu (vocals) performed together with four talented musicians: Valentin Conus (sax), Pablo Klopfenstein (piano), Latyr Boyle (double bass), Gabriel Deloffre (Drums)
12 July 2024: Caux Inner Development Goals Forum - Main Hall - Bay Window, Caux Palace
PIANO RECITAL: KHATIA BUNIATISHIVILI - CHARITY CONCERT
We were extremely honoured and grateful to welcome world-renowned pianist Khatia Buniatishvili for an exceptional concert at the Caux Palace on Saturday, 25 May, 2024.
The funds raised were in support of the programme Arts and Peace Encounters to promote culture in the service of peace developed by the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation.
The Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation was delighted to be able to partner with the Saison culturelle de Montreux, providing its expertise and resources to support the organisation of the evening. Supporting charitable causes is also one of the Saison's missions. This new collaboration, which comes on top of the Emergences Musicales series, also reinforces the desire of both institutions to work together towards a local cultural policy. (photo: Lou Barthelemy)
25 May 2024: Caux Palace Theatre
MARIA DE LA PAZ CANTA LHASA
Captivating songs in three languages. An exceptional venue. And an international audience from all walks of life. When Maria de la Paz and her talented musicians stepped onto the stage of the Caux Palace theatre on 13 September 2023, their performance left no-one indifferent.
Their songs, performed in front of more than 300 people, including representatives from the humanitarian sector, local cultural associations and refugees, spoke of hope, passion, shared values and humanity, transcending differences in our backgrounds and origins. T
he concert was the highlight of an evening, organized by Caux Initiatives of Change, that included speeches from UNHCR and the Swiss association PAIRES, on the concept of hospitality for change and the support and inclusion of migrants (read more about our collaboration).
13 September 2023: Caux Palace Theatre