Swiss Foundation for Photography

Fotostiftung Schweiz (the Swiss Foundation for Photography) is a centre for photography in Winterthur, in the canton of Zurich. It is a private non-profit foundation with its own exhibition space at Grüzenstrasse 45, a short walk from the old town in a converted industrial district.

What is the Swiss Foundation for Photography?

Set up in 1971, the foundation exists to preserve, study and present photographic work. Its collecting focus is photography connected with Switzerland, from the earliest days of the medium to the present. The strongest holdings date from the 1930s to the 1950s, complemented by masterpieces of international photography.

What will you see?

Temporary exhibitions are the main draw. The foundation stages several each year; sources quote three to four, while the official site speaks of four to six. Shows range from classics of Swiss documentary and reportage photography to contemporary voices. The programme changes often, so check fotostiftung.ch for what is on.

Behind the galleries sits a large archive: about 50,000 exhibition prints, roughly 250,000 archive prints and over a million negatives and slides. On behalf of the Federal Office of Culture, the foundation also looks after the estates of around 80 outstanding photographers. Digitised material is gradually made available through an online database for researchers and image users.

Is there a library?

Yes. Together with the neighbouring Fotomuseum Winterthur, the foundation runs a public photography library. The official site counts more than 30,000 publications, making it a good stop for anyone interested in photographic history and theory. The foundation also publishes its own books on Swiss photo history.

How do you get there?

Winterthur is about 20 to 25 minutes by train from Zurich. From the main station you can walk or take local transport to the Grüze district. The address is Grüzenstrasse 45, 8400 Winterthur. Fotomuseum Winterthur is next door, so combining both in one day is easy.

When should you visit?

The gallery is closed on Mondays. On other days it opens around 11:00 and closes in the evening, with longer hours on Wednesdays. Times and ticket prices are adjusted from time to time, so confirm them on the official website before you travel. Recent listings mention free entry on Wednesday evenings, and children and young people up to 16 enter free.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the same as Fotomuseum Winterthur? No. They are two separate institutions in the same area that cooperate on the photography library.

How long should I plan? One to two hours covers the exhibitions; allow more if you want to use the library.

Does it show only Swiss photographers? Swiss photography is the core, but the collection also includes international work.

Can I browse the collection online? Yes, part of the digitised holdings is accessible in the foundation's online database.