Ferme-Asile / Centre Artistique et Culturel

What Ferme-Asile / Centre Artistique et Culturel does

Ferme-Asile is a non-profit multidisciplinary artistic and cultural center based in Sion, Valais, Switzerland, founded in 1996 as a rehabilitated heritage farm building. The center operates two exhibition spaces (La Grange, 800m², and La Grenette, a 200m² heritage venue in old town Sion opened in 2023), an 80-seat concert hall, an 80-seat restaurant with terrace, ten artist studios, and three residency programs (International, Tremplin, and EDHEA). It specializes in contemporary art exhibitions and live music programming, serving the general public, families, schools in Valais romand (over 1,000 students per year through free cultural mediation), emerging and professional artists, and art collectors.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining institutional public subsidies (Ville de Sion, Canton du Valais, État du Valais, Loterie Romande, Pro Helvetia, Étincelles de culture), a tiered membership program (Ami·e·s, Super Ami·e·s, Donateur·rice·s at 50–1,500 CHF), event ticketing, restaurant and boutique sales (artist editions, prints, publications, records, merchandise), private guided tours, and ancillary services such as children's birthday workshops. The center is governed by an association structure led by President Bernard Fibicher, with a core operational team of approximately 10 staff covering direction, curation, communication, musical programming, administration, accounting, and intendance. Distribution is delivered through on-site venues (open Wednesday–Sunday 12h–18h) and a Switzerland-wide online boutique, with marketing via website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Vimeo, Spotify, newsletter, and regional media partnerships (Nouvelliste, Rhône FM, RTS).

Name

Ferme-Asile / Centre Artistique et Culturel

Legal name

Ferme-Asile

Website

https://ferme-asile.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ferme-Asile is a non-profit multidisciplinary contemporary art and music center in Sion, Switzerland, founded in 1996. It operates two exhibition spaces, an 80-seat concert hall, a restaurant, and artist residencies, serving the general public, schools, artists, and collectors with public funding and earned revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art and Cultural Center

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

Keywords

• Contemporary art exhibitions
• Live music programming
• Artist residency programs
• Cultural mediation services
• Art center venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Sion

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government subsidies and institutional funding: Financial support from Municipality of Sion, Canton of Valais, State of Valais, Loterie Romande, and other public institutions
2. Membership fees: Annual membership tiers: Ami·e·s (80-120 CHF), Super Ami·e·s (300-450 CHF), Donateur·rice·s (1,000-1,500 CHF) providing access benefits and discounts
3. Restaurant operations: On-site restaurant with 80 seats and large terrace, open Tuesday-Saturday 10h-00h, serving lunch and dinner
4. Boutique sales: Sales of artist editions, limited prints, publications, vinyl records, merchandise, gift vouchers, wines and beers
5. Event ticketing: Revenue from concerts, exhibitions, and cultural events with reduced rates for members
6. Private visits and tours: Custom guided tours for groups up to 25 people at CHF 100 plus entrance fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ferme-Asile is a non-profit multidisciplinary artistic and cultural center that operates contemporary art exhibition spaces (La Grange 800 m², La Grenette 200 m²), an 80-seat concert hall for jazz and contemporary music, an 80-seat restaurant with terrace, and three artist residency programs (International, Tremplin, EDHEA). It provides cultural mediation for schools, sells artist editions and publications through a boutique, and runs a tiered membership program. The center serves as a hub for creation, production, research, formation, and encounter in Valais, Switzerland.

Product overview

Ferme-Asile is a multidisciplinary artistic and cultural center in Sion, Switzerland, offering a unified portfolio of cultural venues and programs. The core offering includes two exhibition spaces (La Grange 800m² and La Grenette 200m²), an intimate 80-seat concert hall, an 80-seat restaurant with terrace, and three artist residency programs (International, Tremplin, and EDHEA). Supporting services include a boutique selling artist editions and publications, cultural mediation programs for schools and the public, and a membership association. The center specializes in contemporary art and music, functioning as a hub for creation, production, research, formation, and encounter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• La Grange Exhibition Space Main exhibition space of 800 m² dedicated to contemporary art exhibitions, located in the historic barn building at the main Sion site. Open Wednesday-Sunday 12h-18h. Hosts the center's primary exhibition programming.
• La Grenette Exhibition Space Exhibition space of approximately 200 m² located in a heritage building constructed in 1869 in the old town of Sion. Open 14h-18h. Not accessible for people with reduced mobility due to narrow spiral staircase. Opened in 2023 as the center's second venue.
• Concert Hall (Salle de Concert) Intimate concert hall with 80 seats hosting jazz and contemporary music performances. An additional emergency exit was created in September 2024 as part of compliance works.
• Restaurant Restaurant with 80 seats and a large terrace in the middle of orchards, offering culinary experiences alongside cultural events. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10h-00h, serving lunch and dinner.
• International Artist Residency Program International artist residency program hosting 3 artists per year for 2-3 month periods, providing a 45 m² apartment and 18 m² studio, with CHF 1,500 monthly grant from Canton Valais. Open to artists from outside Switzerland.
• Tremplin Young Artist Residency Young artist workspace program offering a 33 m² studio for one year to artists who have completed their studies at a Swiss Romandy art school. Co-funded by Fondation Bea pour Jeunes Artistes.
• EDHEA Artist Residency One-year residency for recent graduates of the EDHEA (École de design et haute école d'art du Valais) offering a 34 m² studio. Partnership with EDHEA located adjacent to the Tremplin studio.
• La Boutique (Artist Editions and Publications) Online and physical shop selling artist editions, limited prints, serigraphs, vinyl records, publications, merchandise, gift vouchers, wines and beers. Prices range from CHF 20 to CHF 650. Ships across Switzerland.
• Cultural and School Mediation Programs Cultural and school mediation programs including guided tours, workshops, round tables, artistic events, and educational activities reaching over 1,000 students annually. Includes private guided tours (CHF 100 + exhibition tickets, max 25 people, ~50 minutes, French and English). Also offers Arty birthday parties for children 5-12 (CHF 180, 2.5 hours).
• Membership Program Association membership with three tiers: Ami·e·s (Solo 80 CHF / Duo 120 CHF / Reduced 50 CHF), Super Ami·e·s (Solo 300 CHF / Duo 450 CHF), and Donateur·rice·s (Solo 1,000 CHF / Duo 1,500 CHF). Provides free exhibition access, free concert tickets, reduced-rate programming, exclusive exhibition tours, artist studio visits, boutique discounts (10-30%), and complimentary tote bags. Annual billing.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ville de Sion (Municipality of Sion)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey institutional supporter providing financial backing and municipal support for the center's operations and programming since its founding.
• Canton du ValaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides CHF 1,500 monthly stipend for international artist residencies. Key institutional supporter for cultural activities.
• État du ValaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding and institutional support for cultural programming and operations.
• Loterie RomandecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss lottery foundation providing ongoing financial support to cultural institutions.
• Fondation de l'Hôpital-AsilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal property owner linked to Bourgeoisie de Sion, with historical connection to social aid functions.
• Bourgeoisie de SioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical owner with ties to social functions and property stewardship.
• EDHEA (Ecole de design et haute école d'art du Valais)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for EDHEA residency program for graduates, located adjacent to Tremplin studio. Joint initiatives for student exhibitions.
• Fondation Bea pour Jeunes ArtistescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting young artists, co-funds Tremplin residency program and provides jury representation.
• Pro HelvetiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss arts council supporting international exposure and programming.
• Ernst Göhner StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss foundation providing funding for cultural projects and programming.
• Point 11minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular cultural partner for collaborative events and programming.
• Le Port FrancminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular cultural partner in Valais arts scene.
• RaiffeisenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate sponsor supporting center operations.
• Zurich InsuranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate corporate sponsor.
• NouvellisteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional media partner for press coverage and promotion.
• Rhône FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional radio media partner.
• RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss public broadcaster media partner.
• Étincelles de culturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram supporting free school mediation activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kunsthalle Bern: Swiss kunsthalle presenting contemporary art exhibitions and programming in a similar institutional model; directly comparable as a mid-sized Swiss contemporary art presenter with public funding.
• Kunsthalle Basel: Historic Swiss kunsthalle presenting international contemporary art exhibitions; analogous as a publicly-supported Swiss presenter of contemporary visual art.
• Spike Island: UK multidisciplinary arts center combining contemporary art exhibitions, artist residencies, and public programming; directly comparable in offering mix and residency-driven model.
• Centre d'Art Contemporain Genève: Geneva-based contemporary art center with exhibition programming and public funding; comparable in mission and Swiss institutional positioning to Ferme-Asile.
• La Ferme du Buisson: French multidisciplinary arts center (Noisy-le-Sec) combining contemporary art, live performance, residencies, and F&B in a repurposed heritage farm — the closest international structural analog to Ferme-Asile.
• Künstlerhaus Bethanien: Berlin-based international artist residency with associated exhibitions and public programming; directly comparable residency + presentation model, though larger and more international.
• Fri Art – Centre d'art contemporain de Fribourg: Swiss Romandy contemporary art center combining exhibitions and residencies with public institutional support — closely mirrors Ferme-Asile's multidisciplinary, publicly-supported model.

Broad incumbents

• Palais de Tokyo: Major Paris contemporary arts center with exhibitions, performances, residencies, and F&B; much larger but model-aligned as a publicly-supported multidisciplinary presentation venue.

Regional players

• Centre d'art contemporain d'Yverdon-les-Bains: Smaller-scale regional Swiss contemporary art center with similar public-funding reliance and residency-adjacent programming; comparable as a Swiss regional multidisciplinary arts venue.
• Mudac – Musée de design et d'arts appliqués contemporains: Lausanne-based Swiss museum of contemporary applied arts; comparable as a publicly-funded Swiss Romandy institution presenting curated contemporary programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user109010578
• Facebookfacebook.com/FermeAsileCentreArtistiqueEtCulturel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ferme-asile-centre-artistique-et-culturel
• Instagraminstagram.com/fermeasile

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ferme-Asile / Centre Artistique et Culturel