Musée d’art et d'histoire de Genève - MAH

What Musée d’art et d'histoire de Genève - MAH does

MAH (Musée d'art et d'histoire de Genève) is a municipal art and history museum wholly owned and operated by the Ville de Genève, Switzerland. Established in 1910 and directed by Marc-Olivier Wahler, the institution operates as a public cultural organization rather than a commercial enterprise, serving general visitors, families, schools, and therapeutic audiences in the Geneva region. Its primary customer segments are the general public, families with children, schools and educational institutions, healthcare and therapeutic audiences, and the SAMAH members society (founded 1897).

The museum's portfolio is built around five interconnected sites in Geneva — the main Musée d'art et d'histoire (Rue Charles-Galland 2), Maison Tavel (history and local heritage), Musée Rath (temporary exhibitions), the Bibliothèque d'art et d'archéologie (BAA) and GamMAH (graphic arts). It holds one of Switzerland's most comprehensive collections spanning fine arts, decorative arts, archaeology, horology, graphic arts, and numismatics, including the world's largest public collection of works by Carlos Schwabe. Beyond traditional exhibitions and the Genava academic journal, MAH operates an active portfolio of ancillary programs: family visits (MAH&MERVEILLES), mobile library readings (Bibliomobile), artist residencies across cinema, music, dance, and curation, accessibility services holding the Label Culture Inclusive (Pro-Infirmis, 2019), and a Santé Durable wellness program developed with HEdS-Genève and HUG covering mindfulness, Pilates, art therapy, and cardiac rehabilitation partnerships. The technology stack centers on a website (mahmah.ch), online ticketing (billetterie.mahmah.ch), online shop (shop.mahmah.ch), digital archives (naville.mahmah.ch), and the MAH Visite audioguide web app, with distribution extended through podcasts on SoundCloud and Spotify.

MAH's business model blends public funding from the Ville de Genève with a distinctive "Pay what you want" (Paie ce qu'il te plaît) general admission policy across all five sites, supplemented by ticketed events (concerts CHF 25, meditation CHF 15, Pilates CHF 30, guided group visits CHF 200) and shop revenue. The go-to-market motion relies on five physical venues, a content-marketing-heavy digital presence (website, blog, newsletter), organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and earned media in outlets such as Le Temps, RTS, and Beaux Arts Magazine. A planned major renovation and expansion (Le MAH de demain) targets 2030, signaling long-horizon capacity growth.

Name

Musée d’art et d'histoire de Genève - MAH

Legal name

Musée d'art et d'histoire de la Ville de Genève

Website

https://mahmah.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

MAH is a municipal art and history museum in Geneva, Switzerland, operating five interconnected sites with comprehensive collections spanning fine arts, archaeology, decorative arts, and graphic arts, serving general visitors, families, schools, and therapeutic audiences under a pay-what-you-want admission model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Art Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

Keywords

• Art museum services
• Cultural heritage exhibitions
• Public art collections
• Museum educational programs
• Art therapy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The MAH is a municipal museum complex operating five venues in Geneva that present permanent collections in fine arts, decorative arts, archaeology, horology, graphic arts, and numismatics, complemented by temporary exhibitions, guided visits, family and educational programs, art therapy and wellness initiatives, and digital experiences including the MAH Visite audioguide web app, podcasts, and the Naville Digital Archives Platform.

Product overview

MAH is a municipal museum complex comprising five distinct venues: the main Musée d'art et d'histoire, Maison Tavel, Musée Rath, Bibliothèque d'art et d'archéologie, and GamMAH. The museum operates on a 'pay what you want' admission model and offers a diverse portfolio including permanent collections (fine arts, archaeology, decorative arts, horology, sculpture), temporary exhibitions, digital experiences (MAH Visite web app, podcasts on SoundCloud/Spotify), educational programs (MAH&MERVEILLES family activities, Bibliomobile, artist residencies), wellness initiatives (mindfulness, Pilates, art therapy), and retail (Books & Co. shop). The institution is undergoing expansion with a renovated/expanded museum planned for 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Musée d'art et d'histoire de Genève (MAH) - General Museum Visit Public museum visit experience at the main MAH building, providing access to one of Switzerland's most comprehensive permanent collections across multiple disciplines, operated on a pay-what-you-want admission model.
• Maison Tavel Historic house museum dedicated to Geneva's urban history and local heritage, operated as a satellite site of the MAH at Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre 6, open Tuesday-Sunday 11h-18h.
• Musée Rath Temporary exhibition venue at Place Neuve in Geneva, operated by MAH as a dedicated space for rotating temporary exhibitions, open Wednesday-Friday 14h-19h and Saturday-Sunday 11h-18h.
• Bibliothèque d'art et d'archéologie (BAA) Public art and archaeology research library located at Promenade du Pin 5 in Geneva, open Monday-Friday 10h-18h, used as a research and documentation center supporting the MAH collections.
• GamMAH (Graphic Arts MAH) Space dedicated to the consultation of the MAH's graphic arts collection and related programming, located at Promenade du Pin 5, open Monday-Friday 10h-17h.
• MAH Visite (Audioguide Web Application) Interactive web application (mah.visite.zone) providing audioguided tours and self-guided exploration of museum collections, allowing visitors to scan works to access detailed information and follow curated itineraries.
• MAH Podcasts Series of thematic podcasts and audio-guided tours available on SoundCloud and Spotify, featuring collection and exhibition content including artist interviews such as an interview with John M Armleder.
• Naville Digital Archives Platform Digital archives platform (naville.mahmah.ch) providing public access to the archives of Édouard and Marguerite Naville, featuring an interactive map, archive browsing with filtering capabilities, and document comparison tools.
• Books & Co. Librairie et Shop Integrated bookshop and reading spaces deployed throughout the museum offering exhibition catalogues, paper goods, decorative objects, accessories, and children's gifts, with a mobile cart service and SLSP library card borrowing system.
• MAH&MERVEILLES (Family Visits) Family-oriented museum visits featuring exploration, games, observation challenges, and creative activities adapted for children aged 6+, priced at CHF 3 per child and CHF 5 per adult.
• Bibliomobile Mobile library service bringing books and readings to Promenade du Pin park during summer months, offering children's storytelling and adult literary programming such as 'Lectures au parc' and 'La Ballade des dames d'aujourd'hui'.
• Résidences d'artistes (Artist Residencies) Artist residency program placing artists within the museum to create works in dialogue with collections, including cinema, music, dance, and curatorial residencies.
• Santé Durable (Wellness & Museotherapy) Health-oriented programs including mindfulness meditation, Pilates, yoga, stretching, and museum prescriptions, developed in collaboration with HEdS-Genève and HUG cardiac rehabilitation services.
• Accessibility Services Inclusive museum services including tactile visits, descriptive audio podcasts, LSF videoguides, Easy French visits, and art therapy programs for visitors with disabilities, recognized with the Label Culture Inclusive since 2019.
• MAGAZINE GENAVA Semi-annual academic journal of art history and archaeology published by the museum, accessible digitally at genava.mahmah.ch.
• Guided Group Visits Guided group visits offered at a flat rate of CHF 200 per group, providing structured tours of the museum's collections for private groups and organizations.
• Observatoires - Carte blanche à John M Armleder (Temporary Exhibition) Major temporary exhibition running from January 29 to October 25, 2026, granting a carte blanche to international artist John M Armleder and featuring dialogue between contemporary art and the MAH's permanent collection.
• Carlos Schwabe (Temporary Exhibition) Retrospective exhibition commemorating the centenary of Carlos Schwabe's death (1866-1926), featuring illustrations and paintings from the MAH's world-leading public collection of the artist's work.
• Sylvia Sleigh (Temporary Exhibition) Exhibition presented in collaboration with MAMCO at Musée Rath, featuring British painter Sylvia Sleigh and including historical works from the 1960s-1970s alongside a contemporary feminist re-reading through 'Refaire collection'.
• Quel froid ! (Temporary Exhibition) Exhibition exploring the theme of winter at Maison Tavel, featuring paintings from the 17th century to the present and photographs, running through August 30, 2026.
• Exposition en valise : Ugo Rondinone - Espace Ryhtmique (Temporary Exhibition) Reactivation of Ugo Rondinone's 2023 Carte blanche segment titled 'Espace Ryhtmique', featuring clocks, engravings, marble sculpture, and sound installation, opened April 3, 2026.
• SAMAH Membership (Société des Amis du MAH) Membership society founded in 1897 offering patrons over 30 privileged events annually, including curator meetings, restoration studio visits, private collection previews, and conferences, in support of the MAH's collections and programs.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HUG - Rééducation cardio-vasculairecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership since 2022 with Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) cardiac rehabilitation program. Every six weeks, patients accompanied by healthcare providers spend a morning at the museum participating in visits designed with medical teams, including dance, singing, drawing, and sensory activities.
• SAMAH (Société des Amis du Musée d'art et d'histoire)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1897Founded in 1897 as Société auxiliaire du Musée de Genève. SAMAH actively supports the museum and participates in enriching its collections. Offers members over 30 privileged events annually including curator meetings, restoration studio visits, private collection previews, and conferences.
• Association FerdinandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt-therapy project offering specialized museum visits for people with Alzheimer's disease and associated dementias, as well as for caregivers and relatives. The MAH develops visits specifically with the Association Ferdinand team.
• WellnessonlygenevaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly Pilates classes held at the museum, with each session beginning with the discovery of an artwork. CHF 30 per class.
• Planète RougeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on hip-hop evening events at the museum, including DJ sets, dance demonstrations, and initiation activities.
• Association Breakdance GenèveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for hip-hop themed evenings, dance demonstrations, and b-boy/b-girl events at the museum.
• Urban TrainingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummer sports activities including Pilates, stretching, and yoga at the museum, accompanied by artwork presentations. Free of charge.
• MAMCO (Musée d'art moderne et contemporain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew collaboration format where MAH invites MAMCO to occupy the Musée Rath with an exhibition dedicated to Sylvia Sleigh, marking an inaugural experiment in curatorial exchange during MAMCO's building closure period.
• SawerdōminorOthersFood and beverage service during summer events, afterworks, and Thursday evenings in the museum courtyard.
• Fédération suisse des aveugles et malvoyantsminorOthersPartner for accessibility programs supporting visually impaired visitors, including tactile plans and audio-described content.
• Association pour le Bien des Aveugles et malvoyants (ABAAGE)minorOthersAccessibility partner for programs supporting visually impaired visitors.
• Alzheimer SuisseminorOthersPartner for art-therapy programs targeting people with Alzheimer's and related dementias.
• GemGenèveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMAH participates in the GemGenève exhibition 'Façonner la matière, sublimer' at Palexpo (May 2026), exploring the essence of creation in decorative arts and jewellery making.
• Watches and WondersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMAH presents 'Wake Up!' immersive exhibition at Watches and Wonders 2026, Palexpo, showcasing alarm clocks, watches, and timepieces from MAH collections.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Musée du Louvre: The world's largest and most-visited art museum, encompassing fine arts, decorative arts, and archaeology. Comparable in collection breadth — MAH's holdings span fine arts, decorative arts, archaeology, and horology — and in public-institution operating model.
• Musée d'Orsay: Major Paris art museum with encyclopedic 19th-century holdings. Comparable as a publicly operated European art museum of significant scale, comprehensive curatorial depth, and major international tourist draw.
• Tate Modern: London's major modern and contemporary art museum. Comparable as a publicly supported cultural institution with international audience, significant digital presence, and innovative programming formats that MAH is beginning to emulate.

Direct peers

• Zentrum Paul Klee: Bern-based art museum with a focused collection and broad cultural programming including concerts, education, and family activities. Comparable as a publicly supported Swiss art institution combining collection-based and experiential programming.
• Museum für Gestaltung Zürich: Swiss national museum for design and graphic arts. Comparable to MAH's GamMAH component, sharing a graphic arts and applied-design focus, with similar public-museum operating model and exhibition programming.
• MAMCO (Musée d'art moderne et contemporain): Geneva's contemporary art museum, also operated under Ville de Genève. Most direct peer: same city, complementary modern/contemporary art focus versus MAH's classical and historical scope, with active curatorial collaboration between the two institutions.
• Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA Lausanne): Swiss cantonal art museum in Lausanne with a comprehensive fine arts collection. Comparable as a publicly funded Swiss regional art museum with multidisciplinary programming and educational outreach.
• Kunstmuseum Basel: One of Switzerland's oldest and largest public art collections, with comprehensive fine arts holdings spanning medieval to contemporary. Comparable as a major Swiss municipal/regional art museum operating multiple venues with strong collection-driven programming.
• Pinakothek der Moderne: Munich's multidisciplinary museum combining art, design, graphic, and architecture collections under one roof. Comparable to MAH's cross-disciplinary approach spanning fine arts, decorative arts, graphic arts, and archaeology.
• Musée Picasso Paris: Major Paris art museum dedicated to Picasso's work, with strong single-artist identity and active programming. Comparable as a publicly operated European art museum relying on a single artist's depth while running educational, accessibility, and outreach programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mahgeneve
• Facebookfacebook.com/mahgeneve
• Instagraminstagram.com/mahgeneve
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mahgeneve

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 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 Musée d’art et d'histoire de Genève - MAH