Project Update: Swiss Cabaret Archive

The processing of the first collection of the Swiss Cabaret Archive is complete. The materials from Cabaret Rüeblisaft underwent conservation assessment, were professionally packaged, inventoried, and documented on our platform. This marks an important first step in the systematic development of the archive.

As each collection is processed, a Wikipedia article is created. This serves to make the collections accessible not only internally, but also to a wider public. The Wikipedia article on Cabaret Rüeblisaft has already been published (see link at the end of the post). The insights and procedures gained from this initial collection processing now form a valuable basis for the further cataloguing of the entire archive.

The processing of objects and costumes, a particularly sensitive part of the collection, has also commenced. Some costumes, instruments, props, and similar materials are in a critically fragile state of preservation and require immediate action. Each object is individually catalogued, evaluated, and documented before being presented to an internal specialist who determines the subsequent steps. Given their varying sizes, materials, and states of preservation, each object requires its own individual treatment.

The SAPA Foundation's acquisition of the Cabaret Archive quickly became known in specialist circles, and interest in the collections is pleasingly high. This demand actively influences the prioritization of further cataloguing work. The estates of Zarli Carigiet and Cabaret Cornichon will be processed as the next collections. Both are of particular interest to several institutions in connection with planned exhibition projects.