Schweizer Museum für elektronische Musikinstrumente
Museum in Fribourg with almost 5,000 synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments in its display storage and a playroom for trying them out.
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About the museum
The smem goes back to the collection of Klemens Niklaus Trenkle of Basel, who gathered electronic musical instruments for 40 years and built up most of the holdings. In 2016 the newly founded museum association took over the collection by contract and committed itself to preserving it in a centre and making it publicly accessible through educational and documentation projects. Since 2017 it has been housed in the display storage in the centre of Fribourg.
Since its founding, the holdings have grown by several hundred instruments; all are donations or were acquired by patrons, as the museum has no funds of its own for purchases. The collection includes synthesizers, organs, drum machines, effects units, mixing desks, amplifiers, electric guitars, recording devices and further studio and stage equipment. It is stored, maintained and shown on only about 600 square metres; there is currently no space for further exhibitions.
In 2018, following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the playroom was created, in which music enthusiasts can play and record selected rare instruments. The museum is run by a non-profit association with a five-member board and around thirty staff, mostly volunteers. Its aims are creativity, preservation and the communication of the cultural heritage of electronic musical instruments.
Highlights
- Almost 5,000 instruments: synthesizers, drum machines, effects units, mixing desks
- Display storage with a public guided tour every Saturday and Sunday
- Playroom: play and record rare instruments yourself
- Workshops on synthesizers, theremin and sound drawing
- Collection of Klemens Niklaus Trenkle of Basel as its foundation
Permanent exhibitions
- Schaulager – Since 2017 the display storage has shown one of the world's largest collections of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments, from iconic machines to analogue rarities.
- Playroom – In the playroom, selected rare instruments from the collection can be played and recorded, accompanied by a team member.
- Founded
- 2016
- Operated by
- Verein smem
- Visitors per year
- approx. 1,750
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 5Students, AHV (old-age pension), IV (disability insurance) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Children under 16 have free admission. |
| Seniors | CHF 5AHV (old-age pension) |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 5IV (disability insurance) |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 5 |
| Groups | CHF 10 per personPrivate tour outside opening hours CHF 50 base price plus CHF 10 per person. |
| Playroom session on Saturdays, 4 hours incl. guided tour | CHF 50Reduced CHF 25; reservation required |
| Special tour with playroom (2 hours, outside opening hours) | CHF 80Base price plus CHF 10 per person |
Price of the public guided tour CHF 10, reduced CHF 5 (students, AHV, IV); playroom access on Sunday from 2 p.m. is included.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Children under 16 have free admission. The workshops ("Draw Your Sound", "Synth Stories", "Play the Air") are also aimed at school classes and families; in the playroom, instruments can be tried out yourself.
Getting there & parking
The entrance is at Passage du Cardinal 1 in Fribourg; the playroom is recognisable by a large red garage door (site plan on the website).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The collection is accessible in the display storage via guided tours; the meeting point is the playroom (large red garage door), registration at least five minutes before the start. Longer special tours last two hours including one hour in the playroom (on request). Workshops for schools, institutions and private groups (duration approx. 2 hours, up to 15 people, also on site at the groups' premises). The playroom can be rented for residencies and recording sessions. |
