Renewal of the Textile Museum

The renewal project will secure the future of the Textile Museum and strengthen the cultural landscape of St.Gallen.

• Alongside the Abbey District, the textile heritage is equally an identity-forming element for the population of St.Gallen and the entire Eastern Switzerland.
• With the renewal building and the creation of a competence center for textiles, the city will gain a third jewel alongside the Abbey District and the University, which will radiate far beyond the region.
• The Textile Museum will be strengthened as an important national cultural institution and made highly attractive for both a nationwide and international audience.
• A welcoming, open meeting place with a bistro and museum shop at street level will be created on the central traffic artery between the train station and the old town.

The historic building was constructed in 1886 and was formerly known as the «Palazzo Rosso» due to its distinctive red brick facade.

• Originally, the building housed the pattern collection and textile library of the Commercial Directorate and served as a training center with its drawing and later embroidery school.
• Before World War I, Eastern Switzerland was a global leader in embroidery production, accounting for more than half of global production and forming the largest export branch of the Swiss economy with nearly twenty percent.
• The textile industry played a key role in the development of mechanical engineering, chemistry, as well as banking and insurance, laying the foundation for Switzerland’s prosperity.
• The building no longer meets the requirements for modern museum operations in terms of conservation, security, and accessibility.

The opening is planned for 2030 and depends on the construction process and fundraising.

• The new museum will house modern exhibition spaces for the history, present, and future of the Swiss textile industry, with a focus on the new permanent exhibition.
• The improved infrastructure will enable us to exhibit valuable international collections, which is currently not possible due to inadequate conservation and security standards.
• The museum tour and operational workflows will be optimized to enhance the visitor experience and streamline workflows.
• Barrier-free and open spaces will create an inviting atmosphere, complemented by a bistro and museum shop at street level.
• A spacious underground exhibition hall of 1,000 m², 7 meters in height, and an observation platform will form the new highlight of the museum.

In recent years, the Textile Museum has significantly raised its international profile through collaborations and exhibitions. With the renewal, this success can be further expanded: The museum will be even more strongly represented in the international cultural world and will sustainably enhance its impact.

• Successful projects such as the exhibition «Sudō Reiko – Making NUNO» (2022) from Japan and «Threads of Power» (2022) in New York have demonstrated the great potential of international partnerships. The New York exhibition was prominently discussed in US media such as the New York Times and CNN.
• The international scientific engagement is further strengthened by the EU project TEXTaiLES (2024–2027) with nine European universities.

The total cost of renewing the museum, from closure to reopening, amounts to CHF 48 million.

• Financing will be shared equally between private donors and public authorities.
• This is not a simple renovation but a comprehensive renewal of the museum, transforming it from a historic school and association building into a professional cultural institution.
• The new permanent exhibition will literally connect Switzerland’s identity-forming textile history with the daily lives of visitors and focus on current topics such as design, innovation, international competitiveness, and sustainability. It will strengthen the significance of the Textile Museum as a cultural institution for the textile world.