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Press release: Art Garden Hotels
Baden/Bad Ragaz
Garden Hotels Switzerland, with the support of Innotour and in close cooperation with the Swiss Sculpture Triennial Foundation (Bad Ragartz), is launching an innovative cultural tourism project. Starting in spring 2026, the first contemporary works by national artists will be exhibited in the gardens of the Garden Hotels Switzerland – as decentralized open-air galleries that connect art, gardens, and hospitality in a new way.
Art in Hotel Gardens – accessible, flourishing, nationwide
The first edition of the "Art Garden Hotels" is scheduled to take place in spring 2026. In the pilot year, the plan is to present initial works by renowned artists at all Garden Hotel locations. The gardens will become open spaces for art, brought to life through related offerings and events in the context of the artworks. The exhibition is aimed at both hotel guests and the interested public, inviting them to encounter art in everyday life, embedded in garden culture and hospitality. From 2027 onwards, the exhibition will be further developed annually and expanded with new artistic contributions.
«The Art Garden Hotels project creates a new form of cultural tourism: contemporary art enriches the hotel gardens of our members and transforms them into places of encounter, diversity, and inspiration.» Luca Norato, President, Garden Hotels Switzerland Association
Collaboration with the Swiss Sculpture Triennial Foundation – Bad Ragartz
The Swiss Sculpture Triennial Foundation Bad Ragartz has been identified as the ideal partner for the project. Behind Bad Ragartz is the Hohmeister family, who have continuously developed the renowned open-air exhibition since its first edition in 2000, creating a cultural event that attracts visitors from all over the world to Bad Ragaz. The Swiss Sculpture Triennial Foundation brings extensive expertise, years of experience, and a broad network to the project. Through a selection process, the foundation contributes its keen sense for suitable artistic positions and assigns the works to the respective hotel gardens, tailored to the location, surroundings, and atmosphere. This collaboration stands for artistic quality and a shared philosophy: art should be experienced in everyday life, in open and vibrant spaces. «The greatest art in life is connecting people through things. It's even better when this can also lead to an economically and touristically relevant factor.» Rolf Hohmeister, Initiator of Bad Ragartz
Call for Artists
National artists whose works are suitable for an open-air exhibition can now apply via the public call for applications to participate in Art Garden Hotels 2026. We are looking for contemporary works that can thrive in public, open spaces and create a special impact in the gardens of the participating hotels.
Supported by Innotour
The Art Garden Hotels project will be supported until 2028 by the funding program “Innotour” from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The funding will be used for innovation, inter-company coordination, and knowledge transfer to sustainably and long-term establish the project in Swiss cultural tourism.
About Garden Hotels Switzerland
The Garden Hotels are an association of currently 19 independent Swiss hotels that share one thing: a special garden. Whether blooming and well-maintained, wild and close to nature, or designed with loving details. The gardens shape the guest experience and make each hotel unique. They invite guests to linger, discover, and breathe deeply. With the Art Garden Hotels project, these gardens will become open spaces for art, accessible to guests, locals, and spontaneous visitors alike.
About the Swiss Sculpture Triennial Foundation – Bad Ragartz
Behind the international open-air exhibition Bad Ragartz is the Swiss Triennial of Sculpture Foundation. For over 20 years, the Hohmeister family has been realizing an extraordinary art project every three years as part of this exhibition, bringing contemporary sculpture into public spaces. Since then, the open-air exhibition in Bad Ragaz, Vaduz (Liechtenstein), and the Old Bad Pfäfers has developed into one of the largest open-air art events worldwide. In 2024, it once again attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Sarganserland region and Liechtenstein, where they could discover works by internationally renowned artists.
