Foundation Ballenberg

The foundation’s purpose is to operate and expand Switzerland’s only open-air museum, while paying heed to the natural landscape of Ballenberg. As a matter of principle, it complies with the statutes of the ICOM (International Council of Museums) and the Association of European Open Air Museums. Furthermore, it backs and encourages endeavours that further the goals of the open-air museum by supporting its course centre.

The Swiss Open-Air Museum is a scientifically grounded institution that conveys and conserves traditional Swiss culture. It strives to collect, research and preserve traditional rural buildings from every part of Switzerland, along with their typical living and working arrangements. Ultimately, its aim is to offer an authentic insight into how people lived, socialised and did business in the past as farmers, craftspeople and tradespeople.

Its board of trustees consists of at least seven and no more than 13 people. In line with the foundation’s purpose, its members include delegates from corporate bodies and experts in the field.

Members of the board of trustees (decision-makers) receive no remuneration for performing their board-related duties. They are, however, entitled to reimbursement of any costs incurred in the course of their work, as well as to reasonable attendance fees – to cover travel and accommodation costs, for example – in accordance with the guidelines determined by the Ballenberg Foundation. According to the statutes, there are also legal safeguards to ensure that no member of the board of trustees can independently dispose of the Foundation's assets (including financial resources).

Staff are employed on the basis of a written employment contract setting out their working conditions, working hours, place of work, salary and appropriate social security benefits in accordance with cantonal and federal Swiss law.

Financial data and records are regularly reviewed and verified by a multi-level internal and external finance team. All the Foundation's financial documents are independently audited and subject to an annual external review. The annual accounts are published on the Foundation’s website.