Welcome to our VOX Cultural Digest, Issue N. 39!
June invites us to bask in the glory of summer, with its long days and warm nights perfect for personal growth and cultural exploration. VOX-Sprachschule continues to be your guide, supporting your journey towards language proficiency.
Don’t forget! Our 15-minute WhatsApp lessons provide daily practice, ideal for your jam-packed summer schedule in June.
June isn’t just about sun and fun; it’s a time for growth and renewal.
VOX Quiz:
🗣️Which language is famous for having a large number of vowel sounds, with around 32 distinct sounds including diphthongs?
a) English
b) Hindi
c) French
d) Thai
🇨🇭Which famous Swiss explorer made a significant contribution to oceanography, including reaching the deepest point in the Pacific Ocean?
a) Jacques Piccard
b) Ferdinand Magellan
c) Auguste Piccard
d) Heinrich Harrer
(Keep scrolling for the answer)
ART
Art Basel
Art Basel draws the global art community to Basel and showcases over 200 leading galleries and more than 4,000 artists from five continents. It is a focal point for high-quality exhibitions and art experiences in the region. Visitors can enjoy a blend of live cultural debates and exceptional exhibitions.
WHEN > 13 – 16 June
WHERE > Basel
Zurich Art Weekend
Experience the vibrant world of contemporary art at the Zurich Art Weekend. Free and open to the public, this event highlights Zurich’s dynamic art scene and offers something for everyone from casual visitors to serious art aficionados.
WHEN > 7 – 9 June
WHERE > Various locations across Zurich
Street Art Festival
Mark your calendars for the Street Art Festival Chur where the city center and old town transform into a massive canvas. This vibrant festival features around 60 national and international urban artists showcasing their skills through murals, live paintings, and more.
WHEN > 21 – 23 June
WHERE > Chur
FESTIVALS
Federal Costume Festival
This vibrant folk festival, returning after 50 years, showcases traditional costumes, folk dancing, and music across seven stages at four festival sites, culminating in grand parades and a traditional costume flash mob.
WHEN > 28 – 30 June
WHERE > Various locations in Zurich
Zurich Pride Festival
Join the vibrant Zurich Pride Festival, a celebration of diversity and inclusion. The event features a lively parade, international concerts, and activities promoting equality for all.
WHEN > 14 – 15 June
WHERE > Kasernenareal, Zurich
MUSIC
blues’n’jazz Rapperswil-Jona
Looking for a music experience? Head to the Blues’n’Jazz Festival, happening in June in Rapperswill-Jona, for a stimulating weekend of blues’n’Jazz.
WHEN > 14 – 16 June
WHERE > Rapperswil-Jona
Opera for All
Join the communal spirit at “Opera for All” where a free open-air broadcast of an opera will captivate audiences. Bring your blankets and picnic baskets early to secure a good spot for this enchanting experience that annually draws hundreds to enjoy opera under the stars.
WHEN > 15 June
WHERE > Sechseläutenplatz
CIRCUS
Knie Circus
The Knie Circus is back in Zurich again for several days for a great performance. You and your family should not miss these inventive, entertaining and sometimes surreal shows with animals and comedians.
WHEN > until 9 June
WHERE > Sechseläutenplatz
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Greisinger Museum
The Greisinger Museum, welcomes enthusiasts into the fantastical world of Middle-earth. Home to the world’s largest and most significant collection dedicated to Middle-earth, the Greisinger Collection includes an extensive array of art, literature, and collectables.
WHEN > Open Year-Round
WHERE > Jenins
WOW City Rally
The WOW Outdoor City Rally transforms Zurich into an interactive playground, where teams navigate through the city, uncovering optical illusions and tackling diverse challenges. It blends exploration with creativity, offering a unique way to discover Zurich’s most picturesque corners.
WHEN > Available Daily
WHERE > Starting from WOW Museum
Parks and Gardens
Zurich is home to around 70 parks and green areas, which offer places for people to meet, relax and enjoy themselves and their food. There are lots of benches, trees, and grassy spots for a picnic or gathering with friends.
WHERE > Zurich
Street Food Festival
Dive into the vibrant world of street cuisine at the Zurich Street Food Festival which offers a spectacular array of international dishes and drinks by the lakeside, providing the perfect setting to enjoy good food and great company.
WHEN > 11 May – 18 June
WHERE > Zurich
MUSEUMS
More Than Gold
This new exhibition unveils the rich cultural heritage and artistry of pre-Hispanic Colombia. With around 400 pieces, many for the first time in Switzerland, it highlights indigenous perspectives on cosmology, nature, and materiality in collaboration with LACMA and the Arhuaco community.
HEN > until 21 July
WHERE > Museum Rietberg
Museums After Work
For those working full-time and looking to explore art and culture beyond regular hours, Zurich’s museums offer extended openings. Enjoy evening visits to a variety of museums with hours extending until 7 pm or later!
WHEN > Various evenings throughout the week
WHERE > Multiple locations across Zurich
Exploring Life’s Tapestry
This exhibition showcases the intricate beauty of biodiversity. From the colourful array of insects and plants to the exploration of ecosystems and genes. Explore nature’s wonders and the critical conversation on conservation efforts.
WHEN > until 14 July
WHERE > ETH
Pierre Gianadda Foundation
The renowned Pierre Gianadda Foundation is a hub of cultural and historical exhibits including a Gallo-Roman Museum, an Automobile Museum, and a vibrant Sculpture Park.
WHEN > Open hours vary by season
WHERE > Martigny
How we learn
Find out about human learning at the “Wie wir lernen ” event in Zurich. Discover the intricacies of lifelong learning, whether intentional or incidental, driven by curiosity or trial and error. Uncover the surprising ways in which we absorb knowledge and skills, even when we’re not consciously trying.
WHEN > until June 2024
WHERE > KULTURAMA
SPECIAL EXHIBITION
Leonardo da Vinci
Journey back to Renaissance Florence at this exhibition, which traces Leonardo da Vinci’s early life and apprenticeship with master artist Andrea del Verrocchio. This exhibition highlights his initial artworks and the development of his unique perspective on nature, revealing the early brilliance of a universal genius.
WHEN > until 20 October
WHERE > Lichthalle MAAG
CITY TOURS
Cityillusion
Zurich is a city with a rich history and culture that can now be explored in an entirely new and exciting way. Take a VR city tour and explore the different places in Zurich while meeting famous historical figures such as Albert Einstein and Katharina von Zimmern. Gain insight into the lives of several influential historical figures and discover the city in an interactive way.
WHERE > Zurich
SCIENCE
Experience the Zurich night sky
The guided tours in German at the observatory beneath its imposing oak dome, provide visitors with an understanding of astronomy and reveal fascinating details about the cosmos.
WHEN > selected dates each month
WHERE > Sternwarte Urania, Zürich
VOX Quiz Answers:
- d) Thai. While Hindi has a good number of vowels, Thai is known for having a much larger inventory of vowel sounds, including diphthongs.
- b) Jacques Piccard co-designed and piloted the bathyscaphe that reached the deepest point in the Mariana Trench, located in the Pacific Ocean.
Thank you for taking the time to read this issue of the VOX Cultural Digest.
Have fun exploring and learning new languages!