Discover our mobile concert hall and its program
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If music is hope, then the Ark Nova is its stage – and more than that: a symbol of confidence, reconstruction and the power of communal responsibility. Created as an artistic response to one of the worst natural disasters in recent history – the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011 –Ark Nova today stands as a beacon for what culture can achieve.
Initiated by Michael Haefliger and the Japanese cultural producer Masahide Kajimoto, Ark Nova was created with the support of two world-renowned creatives: the British-Indian artist Sir Anish Kapoor and the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, who received the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2019. Together, they created a work of art that is not only mobile, but also emotionally moving.
The Ark Nova's first stop was the Tōhoku region in 2013, which was hit particularly hard by the tsunami. The concert hall brought culture back to a place where many people's lives had suddenly come to a standstill – and became a place of hope. Music resounded where mourning had previously reigned. Colours, shapes and sounds merged into an experience that showed: life goes on.
This year, the Ark Nova is coming to Lucerne – once again as a space for music, but also for people to immerse themselves in an atmosphere that radiates warmth and comfort. The soft, rounded shapes and aubergine-pink colour scheme of the shell act like a protective cocoon. And once again, the Ark Nova has a clear motto: “Music Is Hope”.
The power of community
Hope lives not only through art, but also through social commitment. UBS and Nestlé have been closely knit with Ark Nova as Founding Partners since its beginnings – then in Japan, now in Lucerne. This long-standing partnership is an expression of a deeply rooted self-image: companies bear responsibility – not only economically, but also socially.
As part of its program “Nestlé Cares for Communities,” Nestlé is actively engaged in building and strengthening communities. Through its community giving initiatives, Nestlé supports projects and organizations that make a lasting impact in the areas of disaster relief, food assistance, and the promotion of culture and sports. The partnership with Ark Nova goes far beyond traditional sponsorship – it is a shared commitment to a common goal: giving hope. Creating opportunities. Living community.
A space that stays – even when it leaves
The Ark Nova is a temporary building – but its impact is permanent. It reminds us how art builds bridges, how music comforts and how social commitment creates spaces in which the future can grow. Thanks to our partners, this vision is becoming a reality – not just in Lucerne, not just today, but as a model for a world in which hope is not an empty phrase, but a shared task.