Culturescapes is a multidisciplinary Swiss arts festival devoted to inter-cultural exchange . The festival , which takes place in autumn , showcases the cultural landscape of a different region , nation or city every year . Although based in Basel the festival extends to many other places in Switzerland , such as Aarau , Bern , Chur , Zurich , Geneva or Bellinzona . Founded in the year 2002 , the festival mainly focussed on Eastern European countries at the beginning . However , with festival editions devoted to countries like Turkey , Azerbaijan , China or Israel the festival gradually expanded its scope . To mark its tenth anniversary in 2012 Culturescapes focussed on Moscow , for the first time placing the topography of a city at the centre of the festival . The 2013 Balkans festival edition highlighted not only a country but an entire cultural region . 2015 Iceland was presented . At the same time was also announced that in the future the festival will take place in the biennial rhythm . The next edition will therefore be in 2017 . Culturescapes is a network festival , cooperating with existing arts venues in Switzerland , such as the Theater Basel or the Museum Tinguely . The festival is usually supported by Swiss federal agencies , e.g. Pro Helvetia , county authorities as well as state departments of the guest country . The festival is interdisciplinary . Next to performing arts like theatre and dance the festival also presents fine arts , graphic arts , craft , literature , film and new Media . In the programming section entitled „ Focus " the history , current affairs and popular culture of the focus region are discussed and analysed . This largely happens in cooperation with Swiss education institutions such as the University of Basel or the University of Zurich . Some of the countries and topics chosen have led to protests and debate . Such topics include the Armenian Genocide or the Conflicts in the Middle East . In a public letter , Culturescapes was requested by BDS Switzerland , a group advocating the boycott of Israel , not to host the Culturescapes Israel 2011 festival . The BDS Switzerland also protested at some of the events of the festival
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Culturescapes