La Collective is a project in the making, due to open its doors in 2026: it aims to be a reference point for issues of equality, gender and women’s rights.
This large-scale endeavour was born out of the need to create a place dedicated to the missions of various feminist associations in Geneva, to facilitate access for their members and to offer activities that help create social links between people from different backgrounds.
La Collective will house accommodation for women in precarious situations, senior women and students, a crèche, a café-restaurant, the Filigrane library, l’Espace Santé Femmes*, offices for associations and cultural spaces. Open to the city, it will also host events for the public to promote equality in society.
Our ambition is to establish ourselves as a leading feminist hub, in Switzerland and beyond.
History
La Collective was dreamt up over 10 years ago by the Réseau femmes*. To make it a reality, the Fondation pour l’Egalité de Genre (FEG) was created in 2022 with the objective of managing La Collective, which offers diverse set of services andruns awareness-raising campaigns as well as conversation platforms on issues of equality, gender and women’s rights.
Co-developed with the associations part of the Réseau Femmes*, La Collective’s project places the needs of women and gender minorities at the heart of its programming, while being open to the public so that together we can build a more egalitarian society.
Since February 2023, La Collective has made its space available to various groups, associations and organisations dedicated to addressing these issues: a year later, more than 2,300 people have already benefited from our services and platforms.
Partners
The associations within the Réseau femmes* have been involved in La Collective project since its inception. In 2026, several of these organisations will transition into the building: décadréE and SOS-Femmes will set up their offices there, as well as F-information with the Filigrane library, while the Aux 6 logis association will manage the relay accommodation. Workshops and other events from l’Espace Santé Femmes* will also take place at la Collective.
Other associations will use the various spaces for regular or occasional activities, including Voie-F, which will manage the digital platforms, AVVEC, which will run its drop-in centre for women victims of domestic violence, and découvrir, which will use the spaces for its French classes for migrants.
La Collective will be open to partnerships with all types of organisations working towards the same goal.
Plans
La Collective will develop its programme on 3,500 m2 in the heart of Geneva. Housed in two buildings dating from the end of the 19th century, this emblematic space will welcome the public, associations and tenants on 9 levels, from the 2nd basement to the 6th floor, overlooking the rooftops of Geneva and with a stunning view of the Cathedral and the Jet d’eau.
The plans are indicative and may change as the project progresses.
Project timeline
Apr.
2022
Feb.
2023
Dec.
2023
Oct.
2024
Start of work
End
2026
Opening
Project definition, co-creation, vision, mission and governance workshops
Use of premises by associations, art exhibitions and events
Implementation of the project