SPACE Basel is an ambitious cultural and intellectual initiative redefining how knowledge is shared and experienced. Positioned at the crossroads of academia, the arts, and civic life, it bridges the gap between specialized research—spanning philosophy, political theory, the arts, and the social sciences—and the wider public. At the same time, SPACE Basel is deeply rooted in its own context: giving proper attention to the richness of local traditions, ensuring that global conversations remain connected to the cultural and historical fabric of Basel itself.
Our name is our program: S.P.A.C.E. (Science, Philosophy, Arts, Community, Exchange) - Creating conditions in the city that foster intellectual exchange between the local community and the worlds of science, philosophy, and the arts.
Our goal is as simple as it is transformative: not bringing the people to where knowledge/art is produced, but to bring the knowledge producers and artists to the people. By taking knowledge out of its ivory towers and into locations of everyday interaction (i.e. cafés, quartierhauses, food courts [Markthalle, Clara, …], churches, and the occasional gallery and theater), we will create spaces of dialogue, imagination, and participation that cut across social and linguistic boundaries. By making expert knowledge accessible, engaging, and socially relevant, we will help positioning Basel even more as a leader in cultural and intellectual innovation. By democratizing knowledge, we will strengthen Basel’s cultural capital, making the city into an international hub for curiosity, dialogue, and inspiration.
