Cartoonmuseum Basel

The institution is the only museum in Switzerland devoted exclusively to narrative art, including comics, graphic novels, reportage, cartoons, caricatures, and animations. Its activities are based on a significant collection of over 12,000 original works by renowned Swiss and international artists. The museum focuses on curated exhibitions that explore topical themes or the work of individual artists, often integrating related genres such as free drawing, illustration, and animation.

The exhibitions are multilingual and designed for an international audience, aiming to document, promote, and scrutinise narrative drawing. Works are presented within their historical and social contexts, making diverse drawing styles and traditions accessible. Established in 1979 by patron Dieter Burckhardt, the museum was originally housed at St. Alban-Vorstadt 9 before moving to its current location in 1996. This site features an old townhouse renovated and extended with a new building by architects Herzog & de Meuron. Operating without public funding, the museum is managed by the Christoph Merian Foundation. Since 2023, it has carried the suffix “Centre of Narrative Art” to reflect its mission of mediating narrative art and the social issues it addresses.