Kami Manns
Kami MannsDirector

Like a bridge, paradise is here unites institutions and society, the new and the old, art and science, practice and theory. Our headquarters, based in Switzerland, is in itself a meeting point between the cultures of northern and southern Europe, an ideal place for dialogue and creative exchange.

Terror di Ferdinand von Schirach
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Terror di Ferdinand von Schirach
Borderline Festival | Teatro Dimitri
The Sonnet Man | Teatro Dimitri
The Sonnet Man | Teatro Dimitri
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paradise” can be everywhere

paradise is here was born in 2016 from the desire to establish in Ticino a new type of cultural institution, one that presents a top-level artistic program opened to all types of public and open to all artistic forms, in a flexible, inclusive and responsible way.

We established ourselves as a place of creative encounters between different cultures and between different arts, a position born not only from the geographical position of Switzerland and Ticino in particular – in the heart of Europe – but from our deep belief that arts are or should be a place of understanding, of communication, of curiosity towards our own cultures and towards other cultures and of sharing thoughts and ideas that could make this place and any place a better one.

This is how the name of paradise is here was also born, from the idea that we are responsible of building our own ‘paradise’ here or wherever we are. paradise is for us not just a physical place, but a way of being, of acting and a model of responsibly changing the world we live in.

Vision

The main objective of paradise is here is to enable interdisciplinary dialogue between different cultures, artistic genres, artists and audiences.

By combining artistic tradition and new forms of representation, paradise is here aims, with the utmost respect for cultural heritage, to create something new, unique and innovative. Research, new perspectives of emerging artists as well as the connection and/or juxtaposition of innovation and established traditions are part of our cultural projects.

Diversity, depth and sustainability are more important to us than productivity: the artist, as well as the work, is given the space and time he needs to make possible results that go beyond the mere performance. This is exactly the difference between our work and current production methods.

In addition to this, paradise is here is developing a platform for intersectoral exchange between artists and theorists ranging from education and training to technology, economics and health. We believe in the importance of life-long learning and offer cultural mediation for all ages. We aim to improve the mobility of artists and professionals through international collaborations, and to encourage artistic research, offering time, space and support to artists from all over the world.

What We Do

Our core activity includes a wide range of projects, covering not only performing arts, but also visual arts as well as an important artistic research program. We are a flexible and adaptable arts center and we believe that artists, professionals from the field and researchers alike should find at paradise is here their own form of expression.

The main type of projects that we produce is listed here:

  • theatre, dance and music productions
  • film and audio productions
  • interdisciplinary festivals and projects
  • artistic and cultural mediation
  • artistic residences
  • consulting and audience development projects

Today more than ever, it is important to rethink the way art is created, represented, produced and financed. We deeply believe in openness and dialogue, in the exchange of experiences and in a new theater with high common goals. We believe in a space that stimulates understanding between the audience and the artists. In the divided society in which we live, art manages to infiltrate and produce incredible results: paradise is here is exactly the answer to this thought.

Team

We are a collective of artists, musicians and other beauty lovers who meet and unite around the values of paradise is here.

Kami Manns
Kami Wilhelmina Manns (Director)

Kami Manns is an artist, cultural mediator and a leader with a long-term vision. She initially studied choreography at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Art (Berlin), then directing with Anatoli Vassiliev at ENSATT (Lyon), and in 2018 completed her academic training with the Executive Master in Arts Administration at the University of Zurich. Her professional experience includes all sectors of performing arts: she has collaborated with cultural institutions such as the Bayerische Staatsoper München, the Berliner Ensemble, the Opéra National de Lyon, the Opéra National Comique de Paris, Teatr Wielki in Warsaw and many others. Kami Manns uses her rich interdisciplinary experience and her international network in the permanent search for content with strong social value, to stimulate and bring unique results.

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The members of our team can be contacted directly by e-mail name.surname@paradiseishere.ch. For general questions, please visit our contact page.

Gallery

You can see and download below some images about our association.

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