Zurich University of the Arts

Zurich University of the Arts is an art university in western Zurich housed in a converted former factory building, providing space for students in art, design, music, theater, film, and dance. The grounds feature workshops, studios, and performance venues that unite teaching and artistic practice in one location.

The university came into being in 2007 through the merger of two older schools with roots in the 1870s. This joining together united different artistic traditions and created a modern art university.

The campus serves as an active artistic hub where students work daily in studios and rehearsal rooms, with frequent public exhibitions and performances visible throughout the grounds. This working creative presence shapes the neighborhood and shows how art-making is lived as a daily practice.

Visitors can explore the grounds and often attend public exhibitions or performances, experiencing the campus in action. Walking through the different areas on foot reveals the variety of working spaces and offers a genuine sense of creative activity.

The grounds were transformed from one of Europe's largest yogurt factories, which produced food for decades before becoming an artistic space. This shift from industrial production to creative work defines the site's distinctive character.

Location: Zurich

Location: Canton of Zürich

Inception: 2007

Part of: Zürcher Fachhochschule

Address: Pfingstweidstrasse 96

Website: https://zhdk.ch/en/zurich-university-of-the-arts-1

GPS coordinates: 47.38295,8.53580

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:44