BERN, SWITZERLAND.- The Zentrum Paul Klee - located in Bern and designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano - opened its doors to the public for the first time. The Zentrum Paul Klee is more than a museum - it is a place where people of all ages, social and cultural backgrounds will be able to actively involve themselves with art, to lasting effect. The activities revolve around the life and work of Paul Klee and the largest collection of a single artist's talent anywhere in the world - over 4,000 items.

The Zentrum Paul Klee is devoted to one of the twentieth century's most important artists. Klee lived more than half his life in Bern, and the Centre houses over 4,000 of his works - 40 per cent of his total output - making it the world's largest monographic collection of art. Taking its cue from Klee's polymathy - he was a painter, musician, teacher, writer and philosopher - the Zentrum Paul Klee is setting its sights on presenting in detail the artist in all his eclectic diversity by means of extensive interdisciplinary exchanges of all genres of art.

In order to establish links between fine art and music, a venue is needed: a first-class one has been provided in the form of an auditorium able to seat 300 people, and it comes complete with an in-house orchestra - the Ensemble Paul Klee. Performances will include works Klee himself played, ranging from the Baroque to the Classical, as well as a number of works from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries that were inspired by his art. Theatre productions will be strong on visuals, which again ties in with Paul Klee's work.

Aside from the auditorium, other multifunctional and technically well-equipped rooms are available for hire for theatre productions, conferences and seminars. Museum Street - a promenade that forms the Centre's mediation backbone - connects the three hills of the Zentrum Paul Klee, the Middle Hill housing the main collection of Klee works (1,750 m2) and four temporary exhibitions annually (850 m2).

The large children's museum Kindermuseum Creaviva, with its wide variety of things to see and do for children aged four and upwards - as well as for the young at heart of whatever age! - features heavily in the Zentrum Paul Klee's focus on art mediation.

The Zentrum Paul Klee - whose location here in Bern further enhances the region's reputation as a prime touristic destination - also has places where visitors can find refreshments and enjoy a meal; it is also home to a Sculpture Park, and there are charming walks in the area.

The Zentrum Paul Klee was built at a cost of 110 million Swiss francs, all of it financed by private backers including patrons, sponsors and Canton Bern lottery funds; about half of the annual running costs, on the other hand, are to be met from the public purse.