The MASI Foundation

The Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana (MASI Lugano) was born from the merger between the Museo Cantonale d’Arte and Museo d’Arte della Città di Lugano, both of which have been active in the city of Lugano for decades.

This unification was initiated in response to the new development requirements of the museums which have been working under a common artistic direction since 2012. Since its inauguration in 2015, MASI Lugano has become one of the most visited art museums in Switzerland, building a cultural bridge between the north and south of the Alps, between Latin and Germanic Europe. Through its two locations – at the LAC cultural centre and the historic Palazzo Reali – MASI Lugano offers a rich and culturally diverse programme, with temporary exhibitions and changing presentations of its collection as well as a comprehensive, multilingual educational programme for visitors of all ages. The offer is complemented by the close collaborations with the Collezione Giancarlo e Danna Olgiati contemporary art collection, which is part of the MASI circuit.

MASI is one of the Swiss museums directly supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, and also one of the Art Museums of Switzerland, the group of museums selected by Switzerland Tourism to promote the country’s rich cultural image throughout the world.