Cabaret Voltaire Seeks $13M Patron to Preserve Dada Birthplace in Zurich

Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, the birthplace of Dadaism in 1916, is seeking a patron willing to invest CHF 13 million to acquire its building from Swiss Life insurance company, ensuring its status as a preserved artwork. Director Adrian Notz stresses the importance of keeping the venue intact, likening it to preserving a Van Gogh. Despite commemorating Dada's centenary in 2016, the cabaret faces financial challenges, relying on diminishing foundation support. Established by Hugo Ball and Emmy Hennings, it welcomed avant-garde artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Max Ernst, where Ball famously read the Dada Manifesto in 1916. Following the original Dadaists' migration to Paris and Berlin, the venue remained active until plans for closure in 2002 led to a brief illegal occupation by 'neodadaist' artists. Although it has reopened with ongoing programming, financial stability remains elusive.