About

My professional background

I have been working for more than 20 years in the field of cultural policy and management, both in operations (management and other managerial functions) and in research, regularly publishing my ideas and giving lectures in different universities.

I approach new challenges in the artistic and cultural sector from a holistic perspective, analysing interactions and interdependencies with other sectors or disciplines, in order to propose sustainable and coherent solutions.

Dr. phil. in theatre studies, DAS in cultural management and MBA in economics and management.
Lecturer in Cultural Policy (Cultural Management in Lausanne / Geneva and Cultural Management CAS in Change Management and Innovation – University of Basel, DAS in Cultural Education, EESP-HES Lausanne)
Various activities and positions in the field of cultural policy (Commission vaudoise pour le théâtre indépendant, Office for Culture of the Canton of Berne, Board of Trustees of Pro Helvetia, Board of Trustees SAPA – Swiss Archive of Performing Arts, etc.) and research (Manufacture-Lausanne; HEAD-Geneva)
Several mandates for the evaluation and development of cultural policy in French-speaking Switzerland
You can find the complete curriculum vitae below.

My research interests

Two issues are at the heart of my current research: future business models and digitization.

As public subsidies stagnate or worse decline, cultural sector actors face new challenges. A global analysis of the current business model makes it possible to strengthen the multiple facets of an organization and offer development opportunities. In addition, the range of innovative business models (open model, diversification, cross selling, UX, reorientation, long tail, etc.) can help to inspire and strengthen the cultural sector in a sustainable way without sacrificing the notion of public service.

As for digitalization, it affects culture in the broadest sense: from artistic production to distribution, including e-commerce, cultural mediation, communication, responsive marketing, community and public development, all sectors are or will be concerned.

Curriculum vitae

Download my CV

Anne-Catherine Sutermeister studied French literature and theatre studies at the Universities of Vienna and Montpellier. She completed her PhD at the Department for Theatre Studies at Bern University (Sous les pavés, la scène. L’émergence du théâtre indépendant en Suisse romande dans les années 60, Editions d’en-bas, Lausanne, 2000) and graduated with a MBA at Geneva University (2015). In 2009, she became the director of the “Théâtre de Jorat” of Mézières, became member of the board of Swiss Arts Council – Pro Helvetia and took over since 2010 the Department of research at La Manufacture – Haute école de théâtre de Suisse romande. From 2012 until 2019, she is Head of R&D at HEAD – Geneva University of Art and Design. She published various articles on contemporary swiss theater and cultural policies (Dictionnaire du théâtre en Suisse, Dictionnaire de l’art suisse – www.sikart.ch, Revue Europe, Revue Mouvement, etc.)

At the moment, she is curating a exhibition at Fondation Martin Bodmer in Cologny on Theatre and Masks – the wonderful masks of Werner Strub, member of the board of the Swiss Archive of Performing Arts (www.sapa.ch), teaching cultural policies and innovative business models in the art sector. She is also consultant in cultural policies and has several mandates for public entities (design of cultural policies).