New Lucerne Theatre: Forward-looking operating concept confirmed
In the course of the September 2023 session, the Lucerne Cantonal Council requested an external review of the operating concept for the new Lucerne Theatre. The preliminary evaluation by METRUM Managementberatung now confirms that the financial requirements have been met and gives the green light for the further development phases of the project.
The evaluation of the operating concept for the new Lucerne theatre, which was drawn up in 2020 and later adapted to the winning project “überall” by Zurich architects Ilg Santer, was led by the renowned management consultancy METRUM. This review included discussions with experts and a review of documents and studies on various operational aspects such as personnel, space costs and catering.
Confirmation and strategic direction
The evaluation was divided into the areas of “cultural policy issues”, “output issues” such as visitor numbers and performance figures and “input issues”, which include personnel planning and building maintenance. The results confirmed the operating concept and emphasised the need for detailed planning for the future. Cultural Director Dr Armin Hartmann and Lucerne City President Beat Züsli presented the encouraging results, which confirm the theatre as a multi-genre theatre with its own ensemble and emphasise its importance for cultural provision and economic value creation.
Confidence-building and political acceptance
The pre-evaluation serves as an important confidence-building measure for the project, which is facing political and financial challenges. The results provide a solid basis for the upcoming decisions and further project development, including a possible referendum in winter 2025. This step is crucial to convince the city council of the necessity and feasibility of the project.
With the upcoming media conference and the detailed presentation of the “everywhere” project, the City of Lucerne will present a comprehensive report and proposal that sets out the financial and operational framework for the new theatre. This progress promises to have a lasting impact on Lucerne’s cultural landscape and further strengthen the city as a cultural hub in Switzerland.