Kulturama Museum of Human Evolution

Our goal

Kulturama conveys knowledge and science about humankind in a way that is understandable to all.

Kulturama Museum of Human Evolution was founded over 40 years ago specifically for museum education. It conveys curriculum-relevant knowledge and scientific findings about humans to school classes of all levels and to the general public. Kulturama works in an interdisciplinary way, with people of all ages, and conveys knowledge in an understandable way to specific target groups.

The museum consists of five exhibition areas. The exhibition «Where we come from» shows the evolution of life and humans back to early cultures. The exhibition «Who we are» focuses on the course of human life and the bodily functions. «How we learn» is dedicated to human learning, memory and learning strategies. In the «Discovery Trail», hands-on stations are available for active engagement with evolution, prehistory and the human body.

The fifth area consists of a temporary exhibition changing annually. Here, in-house productions, external exhibitions or co-productions with other museums and institutions are presented.

An overview of all past temporary exhibitions can be found here.

Kulturama combines both biological and cultural-historical themes related to humanity. It offers a broad range of educational offers for all generations, school classes, families and adults. By the end of 2024, over 15.300 educational offers have been carried out. In this respect, Kulturama is one of the most active museums in Switzerland.

History

Kulturama was founded in 1978 by Paul Muggler as one of the world's first museums about evolution.

He based it on his publications "Panoramas of Cultural Historical Evolution" and his exhibitions, which he had presented throughout Switzerland. In 1987, Paul Muggler established the non-profit Kulturama Foundation as a sponsor under the supervision of the Canton of Zurich and donated his extensive private collection to the Foundation.

Paul Muggler was a pioneer  in Swiss museum education and inspired countless visitors of all ages with  his exhibitions, guided tours and lectures.

He led over 800 palaeontological excursions in Switzerland and Europe with interested adults, young people and children, teaching them about prehistory and the development of life. In 1996 he handed over the museum management to his successor Claudia Rütsche.

With guided tours for school classes and groups, tailor-made workshops, lectures or interactive museum tours, Kulturama makes Paul Muggler's legacy accessible to young and old. The well thought-out museum pedagogy renders evolution, human biology and cultural history tangible and understandable for all.

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Collection

The Kulturama houses the extensive palaeontological collection of the museum founder, Paul Muggler, with fossils from all over Switzerland and Europe, his collection of extant shells and snails, as well as rarities from the history of civilisation.

Donations from other collectors have expanded the museum's collections.

Board of Trustees

Regine Aeppli, lic. iur.
Former Government Councillor and Director of Education of the Canton of Zurich

Susanne Bernasconi, lic. iur.
Former cantonal councillor

Claudia Rütsche, Dr. phil.
(Chairwoman)
Director of the Kulturama

Nicole Steiner
Finance and accounting specialist with federal diploma

 

Andrea Widmer Graf, Prof. dipl. math.
(Deputy Chair)
Former Prorector Education of PHZH

Stephan Widmer, Dr. iur.
Former Secretary General of the Department of Education of the Canton of Zurich

 

 

Team

Management

Dr. Claudia Rütsche Managing Director

Studied at the University of Zurich in history, palaeontology, prehistory and early history as well as anthropology.

  • 1984 start of involvement in  Kulturama
  • 1992 deputy director
  • 1996 director, succeeding museum founder and benefactor Paul Muggler
  • 2006 elected Chairman of the Board of Trustee

Research on the history of Swiss museums (selection):

  • From the cabinet to the foundation of modern museums. A comparison of museum precursors in Zurich, Basel and Bern. Master thesis, University of Zurich.
  •  The Kunstkammer in the Zurich church Wasserkirche. Public collecting activities of a well-educated community in the 17th and 18th centuries from a museum-historical perspective. Dissertation University of Zurich.
  •  Diploma of Advanced Studies in Counselling UZH (Psychological Conversation and Counselling, Psychological Institute, University of Zurich). «Designing the museum visit as a personal encounter - Psychological conversation situations in museum education and the importance of empathy and relationship». Awarded diploma thesis (Arnold-Vogt Prize 2013). Publisher BibSpider.

Curriculum vitae of Dr. Claudia Rütsche

Mediation &
Visitor Service

Sabine Frei
Sabine Frei, M.Sc. Head of Museum Education Team and Visitor Services

Studied Biology at the University of Zurich, Master's Degree in Anthropology and trained as a museum educator at Kulturama.

Raymond Grob, M.Sc Museum education, scientific collaboration

Master of Science in Psychology at the University of Zurich, school psychologist, training as museum educator at Kulturama.

Thomas Bolliger, Dr. sc. nat. Collection curator, museum education, scientific collaboration

Studied Earth Sciences with Biology/Paleontology at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. Post-doctoral studies in Munich, graduate of the ICOM course in museum practice, further training as a museum educator at Kulturama.

Fabienne Spahn Museum education, Curatorial Assistant

Master of Science in Biology with Master in Ecology and Evolution at ETH Zurich

Exhibitions

Emanuela Jochum, lic.phil. Head of Exhibition Team

Studied Prehistory and Early History, Palaeontology and Classical Archaeology at the University of Zurich. Further training in project management IPMA Level D. Further training in museum education.

Robert Jürgens Technical Services and Maintenance

Plumbing Installer and 3D Polydesigner

Stefi Näglei Graphic design

Graphic Designer EFZ

Marketing and
Administration

Carina Sjöberg Head of Marketing and Administration Team

Master of Advanced Studies in Brand and Marketing Management, Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management, Business Economist FH

Claudia Z'Graggen Administration and Assistant to the Management

EFZ Business Administration

Orell Merazzi Reception and Administration

EFZ Apprentice Business Administration

Eva Stürm Administration and Reception

EFZ Business Administration

Volunteers

Many thank for your support:

  • Pamela Alean
  • Barbara Ehrbar
  • Reza Ghasemi
  • Ria Parakova
  • Raoui Said
  • Ursula Schwarz
  • Monika Stolz
  • Iveta Sukenikova
  • Heidi Wigert

Support

Association

"Freunde des Kulturama"

The association "Freunde des Kulturama" was founded in 2002. Its aim is to support the Kulturama ideally and financially in the fulfilment of its scientific, cultural-historical and educational tasks. They support the museum with new acquisitions and the realisation of special exhibitions.

In addition to an annual subscription, membership includes other interesting benefits. Members also have access to a varied programme that is put together especially for them.

Further information can be found here:  kulturama.ch/freunde.

Board of the association
President: Sandra Lindegger
Vice President: Peter Muggler
Member: Dr Claudia Rütsche

Donations

As a privately run museum, donations from private individuals and institutions are an important part of our funding. Small and large contributions help us to keep the museum alive with a new special exhibition every year, to create an attractive supporting programme and to tailor knowledge and science to the needs of our public.

We look forward to your donation.

Our donation account:
CH 28 0900 0000 8530 5644 2 (IBAN)
Kulturama-Stiftung
Museum of Human Evolution
CH–8032 Zurich

The Kulturama Foundation is tax-exempt in the Canton of Zurich.
Donations can be deducted from taxes.

Donate with Twint:

Kulturama Twint Barcode

Sponsoring

On our journey as one of the most active museums in the field of museum education, we have always been supported by sponsors. For us, sponsorship means a partnership that should benefit both partners. Long-term engagement allows for a better understanding for both sides and a tailor-made platform.

Are you interested in positioning your company or institution at the heart of knowledge and science? Contact us, we look forward to new partnerships:
Carina Sjöberg, T 044 260 60 44 or medienstelle@kulturama.ch

Our current projects requiring funding are:

– Renewal of the permanent exhibitions
– new special exhibitions

Legacies

The Kulturama can only continue to make Paul Muggler's collection accessible and offer additional permanent and temporary exhibitions thanks to support from private and public sources.

Would you like to support our valuable work in the long term? Are you interested in passing on human knowledge and science to the next generation in an understandable way?

With a legacy or donation to the Kulturama, you can help us to fulfil our cultural mission. Bequests to Kulturama are tax-exempt.

Would you like to find out more about how you can support the Kulturama? Please get in touch with us: Carina Sjöberg, T 044 260 60 44 or medienstelle@kulturama.ch

Visual material

Please visit our the German section to see and download the visual material.

The picture material  may only be used for media purposes in the context of current reporting on the activities of the Kulturama Museum of Human Evolution. Any other use - in printed or digital form - requires our permission.

Please indicate the copyrights and use the captions.

Can't find the subject you are looking for? Our media office will be happy to help you:

Carina Sjöberg, Phone +41 44 260 60 09 or medienstelle@kulturama.ch