An inspired duo

Basel and Miami Beach (USA) have enjoyed a close relationship for many years. After the Art Basel Miami Beach took place for the first time in 2002, a regular exchange began to take place between the two cities. The sister event, Art Basel in Florida, celebrated its tenth edition in December 2011.

As part of this anniversary, the cooperation between the two art metropolises has been officially sealed in a City Partnership: a delegation from Miami Beach under the leadership of Mayor Matti Herrera Bower visited the Art 42 Basel from June 15 - 19, 2011, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the Basel Town Hall (Rathaus). The City Partnership Contract itself was concluded on November 28, 2011 as the prelude to the Art Fair in Miami Beach.

The focus of the Basel’s new city partnership is on the interests of both sides in culture, tourism, economic development and education. The City of Miami Beach has a strong concentration of institutions, initiatives and companies in these areas. In addition, due to its position, it also creates an interesting bridge to Latin America.

Sister states on both sides of the Atlantic

Basel-Stadt and the State of Massachusetts have long discovered that they have many things in common. Therefore, on June 20, 2002, the two states signed a co-operation agreement at Basel’s initiative. Both partners are among the leading economic areas in their country; they are home to many very successful high-tech companies, especially in the field of life sciences, and to many distinguished research institutions. Also, both states offer a high standard of living, a rich cultural life as well as many tourist attractions.

The Sister-State-Agreement between the two states has clear economic objectives. The two cities, even if of different size and importance, have similar structures and views, and apply the “strengthening of strengths” approach, in particular in the fields of economic affairs and trade, as well as education and life sciences. The principal focus of the partnership between Basel and Massachusetts lies clearly in the field of science and education. The activities comprise pupil exchanges as well as co-operation and the exchange of knowledge in the specialist fields of earth science and nursing science.

Basel-Stadt is the only Swiss canton that entered into an official partnership with a US State so far. Massachusetts, on the other hand, is also a partner of regions in Japan, China and South Africa.