Posteriority

The agency of Rolf Bürgi, Hans Meyer-Benteli and Hermann Rupf purchase the artistic estate of Paul Klee from Lily Klee-Stumpf and found the Paul-Klee-Stiftung by the Klee-Gesellschaft. The Foundation’s assets comprise some 1'800 works.

The Paul-Klee-Stiftung and the Klee-Gesellschaft promote the active awareness of the art of Paul Klee through publications and by staging exhibitions in Switzerland and abroad.

Paul Klee achieves great international renown through the scientific publications and numerous exhibitions on four continents organised by Felix Klee and the Paul-Klee-Stiftung, which is chaired by the artist’s son as of 1963, following the death of Hermann Rupf.

Alexander Klee and Livia Klee-Meyer, heirs to Felix Klee, loan the art works and part of the documents from the estate of Felix Klee to Berne’s Art Museum.
Alexander Klee approaches the Director of Berne’s Art Museum, Hans Christoph von Tavel and raises the idea of establishinga museum dedicated to Paul Klee in Berne.

Offer of a donation by Prof. Maurice E. Müller and his wife Martha Müller-Lüthi. The offer concerns two plots of land at Schöngrün on the eastern outskirts of Berne and at least 30 million Swiss francs. Conditions: Schöngrün as location; Renzo Piano as the architect; and a cultural centre – not a traditional museum – is to be planned and completed there.

Acceptance of the Müllers’ offer of donation, and founding of the Maurice E. and Martha Müller Foundation on 4 November to finance the project evaluation, planning and construction of the Zentrum Paul Klee.

Renzo Piano accepts the architecture commission on 18 December.

On 4 March the City of Berne referendum adopts the bill submitted by an overwhelming majority (78 per cent of votes in favour).

10 June: The Müller family sets up the Fondation du Musée des Enfants auprès du Centre Paul Klee, the operating company for the children’s museum Kindermuseum Creaviva at the Zentrum Paul Klee.

Inaugural festivities to be held in from 20 June to 3 July.

31 December: Latest date for inauguration (condition of the Livia Klee-Meyer donation).