Andy Warhol, Maja [Portrait of Maja Sacher-Stehlin], 1980 silkscreen print on acrylic on primed canvas, 101.5 x 101.5 cm Emanuel Hoffmann-Stiftung (c) 2004 Andy Warhol Foundation / ARS, New York / ProLitteris, Zurich

The Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation

The Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation is at the heart of Schaulager. Founded in 1933 by Maja Hoffmann-Stehlin, the later Maja Sacher (1898-1989), the foundation was established in order to continue the commitment to contemporary art which she and her husband, also died young, had begun.

Maja Sacher pursued three main objectives with her foundation: the collection, conservation and mediation of forward-looking art. The collection was given to the Kunstmuseum Basel as a permanent loan in 1941 and in 1980 Maja Sacher initiated the construction of the world's first museum of contemporary art.

The foundation's capital enables the continuous development of the collection. This has now become so extensive that only a small part can be exhibited in the Kunstmuseum or Museum für Gegenwartskunst at any one time.

Schaulager once again enters unknown territory with the promotion of contemporary art in the spirit of Maja Sacher. The construction and running of Schaulager has been made possible by the Laurenz Foundation, which was founded in 1999.