European festivals Association

Culturescapes is a multidisciplinary biennial arts festival that celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023. 

Since its inception in 2003, Culturescapes has been a beacon of cultural relations and understanding. Nestled in Basel, Switzerland, our festival transcends borders, reaching far beyond one city or country. With a robust network of over 40 partner institutions across Switzerland and the three countries’ region around Basel (Switzerland-Germany-France), we are a testament to the power of collaboration.

Each edition of our festival is a celebration of cross-border dialogue, mutual learning, and cultural cooperation. We firmly believe that cultural relations and understanding are the keys to building inclusive, open, and fair societies.

In October-November 2023, Culturescapes’ 17th edition focused on the Sahara region. By connecting the seas and oceans on the opposite sides of the continent, the Sahara used to be a network of pathways and travel routes, carrying and connecting peoples and cultures. Nearly 100 events with over 130 artists attracted an audience of more than 42'000 visitors.

Together with artists and curators from within and around the Sahara, Culturescapes started a journey to the present-day Sahara.

This journey will continue in 2025, when, for the first time in its 22-year history, Culturescapes will return to the Sahara, thus expanding its focus over the two consecutive editions. The reasons for this are manifold. The expansion of the Sahara, which has reshaped its biological and cultural ecosystem, and the expanding presence of African cultures and voices in the global dialogue are just a few. 

Over the years, Culturescapes has successfully showcased the cultural richness of various regions. Past editions have shone a spotlight on Georgia (2003), Ukraine (2004), the Balkans (2013), Tokyo (2014), Iceland (2015), Greece (2017), Poland (2019), and Amazonia (2021), among others. Each edition has been a testament to our commitment to promoting cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.