In our new regular blog series we profile local entrepreneurs, event organisers and creators whose ideas and passion for their city are changing the local cultural scene.
Pascale Clemann is a Swiss-Canadian entrepreneur and co-founder of the Marché Sans Puces, a pop-up trendy market in Geneva that has become hugely successful thanks to its covetable and unique assortment of clothing, artwork and design objects from local stallholders and shop owners.
What events are you currently managing?
The Marché Sans Puces is now in its eighth edition and the next one, in June, will take place in Plainpalais, in a large hall with a beautiful courtyard. I am also co-organising the Geneva Street Food Festival in September and I’m working to bring the Piknik Electronique concept, a weekly daytime electronic music gathering, to Geneva, which is planned for the summer of 2016. The events will be similar to the ones in Montreal and Barcelona.
A previous Marché Sans Puces in Geneva
You have lived in cities like Zurich, Madrid and Sydney. Why Geneva?
Geneva is undergoing a major positive change. I'm all about promoting and giving a platform to creative locals, designers, shops, and music artists, whilst at the same bringing local people together to have a good time. There is a certain creative energy, a readiness for new concepts to emerge here. I constantly meet different groups of people committed to bringing innovative projects to life. It’s very stimulating to be part of this local scene.
What are your favourite local venues and events ?
Antigel - This polyvalent festival has a surprising and ambitious program, which takes you to the far-reaching ends of the city to some of its most original locations.
HEAD Fashion Show - The Haute école d’art et de design has become a world reference since it exposed a remarkable collection at Venice’s Biennale recently. The students are carefully selected artists with a creative team of professors. I particularly appreciate the artistic exploration of the fashion students at the school, who organize a yearly show to expose their work. Some of my favourite pieces are the more bizarre ones.
La Nuit des Bains - The galleries stay open all night long in the Bains neighbourhood during these regular art events. The whole city is out on these nights.
Summer Rave Parties - These are unauthorized musical gatherings in the most random locations, from forests to waterfronts. Associations like the Hameçon and the Motel Campo team organise these parties in different hidden locations, communicated to a restricted audience at the last minute. To get an invitation, you need to be Facebook friends with the right people.
The Foound venue and events - With a hairdresser’s corner, a tattoo parlour, a vintage clothing rack and an art gallery, this space is extremely polyvalent and welcoming. The various gallery exhibitions include anything from photography to paintings plus there are Friday techno afterworks events, the burritos on Wednesday and the Street Kitchen crew on Friday lunches. All the events are frequently posted and updated on Facebook.
Read more about the best things to buy, eat and do at the next Marché Sans Puces event in Geneva.