The Basel Debrief: A Rundown of Basel Art Summer Camp 2025
- Monica
- Jul 16
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 20
A month has already passed since I arrived in Basel, with bags stuffed full of artist goodie-bag supplies, my head overflowing with checklists, and my heart fluttering with a mix of nerves and excitement at the idea of launching our second edition of the Basel Art Summer Camp.
Last year had been such an experiment: transforming the Hyve Hostel lobby into an artist-run mini art fair, inviting artists to live, exhibit, and experience Basel’s busiest and most fun art week in an intimate, personal way. This year, the expectations were definitely higher: many visitors and collectors from the first edition were eager to return, the Hyve team had just finished renovating the lobby, and everyone was excited to see it come alive once more.
Monday 16th – Last checks and our “go live” on BaselLive
Monday was very much our final prep day, with me zig-zagging all over Basel to gather the last bits for the artist goodie bags - which, if I say so myself, ended up being genuinely amazing.
This year the goodie bags weren’t just a figure of speech but an actual Basel classic: the Wickelfisch dry bag you use to float down the Rhine, a water bottle to keep everyone cool, plus tickets to Liste, Volta, Africa Basel, and, arguably the real prize, vouchers for the newly opened Gelateria di Berna in Gundeli, which is conveniently walking distance from Hyve.
One of those unexpectedly sweet moments was spotting the BaselLive story about us in the tram! It felt genuinely surreal and very rewarding to see it in Basel's main mode of transport after so many weeks of planning and emails.
Tuesday 17th – Artist arrival and getting to know each other
Tuesday was the big arrival day for the artists, and honestly, my nerves were buzzing from the moment I woke up.
They arrived one by one, pulling their suitcases behind them, carefully wrapped artworks in tow, and greeting us with big smiles and hugs. The afternoon was spent making sure everyone got settled into their rooms, figuring out final logistics, and making sure no detail got overlooked.
In the evening, we all came together for a welcome dinner catered by Celeste and Carly, who co-produced this year’s event, and it was exactly what everyone needed - a delicious, homemade meal that set the tone for the week. We played We’re Not Really Strangers (which, fun fact, is a game I often use to end interviews with curators and artists) and it proved to be the best icebreaker: people shared big thoughts, small details, and things you’d never normally admit to people you just met. We wrapped up the night with a late ice cream run, wandering Basel’s summer-lit streets, realizing that yes, it was really happening all over again.
Wednesday 18th – Art on the walls, press in the house and the big opening
Wednesday was the classic install day at Hyve: ladders, measuring tapes, blue tack, and a fair bit of last-minute adjusting as we worked out the best way to hang everyone’s work.
There’s always that moment when you think it might not come together in time - but by midday it always does.
In the afternoon, we welcomed the press for a little preview, giving them tours and answering their questions, and by evening it was the official opening night.
The lobby was full and alive with people drifting in and out, chatting with the artists, drinks in hand, and music filling the space. Over 150 people signed up, and judging by the video footage, most of them actually showed up. For me, that was when the whole vision truly clicked: it stopped being just an idea on paper and became a real, living event.
Thursday 19th – Art workshops and performances
Thursday was packed from start to finish. We started with a workshop hosted by artist Rianne Bouter that really got people thinking and talking in new ways.
Later in the day we held a "Collector’s Talk" that ended up going much deeper and more personal than expected. There’s always something special about those conversations that move beyond the usual sales pitch and get to the real reasons people care about art.
The evening highlight was a performance piece that was raw, funny, and a little uncomfortable in all the best ways. Kate Jones and friends truly took us on a ride with their "Dirty Thirty" show making us laugh, cry, and definitely feeling everything in between.
Friday 20th – Cooling off with a post-art swim
Friday might have been the favourite day for almost everyone there!
We kicked things off in the morning with Kiera-Grace’s life drawing workshop, which was open to anyone wanting to pick up a pencil and get a few tips from a real artist. Then came our big promise: we’d given all the artists the Wickelfisch goodie bags and swore we’d put them to use, and we did.
We hosted a group Post-Art Swim in the Rhine. Most of the artists joined in, but it was also open to the public, so with a 20 CHF ticket, anyone could sign up and get their own Wickelfisch bag. Basel during Art Basel can feel so exclusive, with big fairs, VIP lists, and private parties, so we wanted to offer something completely different: simple, shared, joyful - and still very Basel.
We all floated downstream together - artists, curators, friends - laughing, yelling, taking in the summer sun, and creating one of those memories you know you’ll hold onto for ages. It even got picked up by The Art Newspaper after art podcaster Alexandra Steinacker-Clack joined us and featured us in her Basel Diary. Seeing that write-up was a surreal little “we actually did something special” moment - and a reminder that it’s those moments between the art that really connect us. (if you don’t know her podcast yet have a listen to All About Art here)
Friday evening, we slowed things down back at Hyve with our Drink’n’Draw session, which turned out to be such a fun, relaxed way to close the day. There’s something about handing people paper and a glass of wine that instantly sparks connection and collaboration. PS: you can even find some of those drawings from that night in the art vending machine, that has a permanent home at Hyve - see it as your little art fix between the big fairs.
Saturday 21st – Knitting, walking, woodcarving, and tea time
Saturday was by far our busiest day of the week, jam packed with activities happening at the hostel.
We started early with Basel Knit Club joining us, and it was such a soothing, communal way to begin the morning, just sitting together, hands busy, minds a little calmer as the city woke up.
After that, we tried something new with our Discover Basel Walking Tour led by Duygu from Octo Events, which turned out to be a real hit. It let everyone see Basel beyond the usual art fair venues and was a lovely reminder of why so many people fall in love with this city.
Back at Hyve, the workshops continued: Tanisha Raj led a woodcutting session that was creative and super hands-on, while later in the day, Chia Ying Wu hosted a beautiful tea ceremony that offered a slower, more reflective moment in the middle of all the bustle.
Sunday 22nd – He-art-felt Goodbyes
Sunday always has that slightly bittersweet feeling.
The lobby was noticeably emptier with some of the art already sold and taken down, and the artists beginning to pack up their remaining works. People lingered over their goodbyes, hugging and promising to stay in touch, but there was a definite sense that everything was winding down.
We did our best to keep the mood up with one last little festival push out on the terraces.
MOMO ran a skateboard spray-painting workshop that added bright bursts of colour and energy, while Naimay Nails set up a pop-up nail salon so people could get tiny works of art on their fingertips. Busy Bee was there offering flash tattoos from his book - and for the brave ones, there was even art pulled from the vending machine.
It felt like the perfect way to end the week: one last burst of creativity, colour, and community before everyone headed their separate ways.
A Few Reflections for next year's Basel Art Summer Camp
Hosting for the second time taught us so much.
Here are a few key learnings on our side - before we ask YOU for your feedback:
Next year, we’ll make sure artists arrive on Sunday so there’s time to settle in before the real Art Week rush begins
We’re absolutely keeping the welcome dinner and the icebreaker questions, because that first evening really sets the tone for the whole week - and we might even include a swim that day, since it’s such a good way to bond
We also want to do a better job of letting Hyve guests know what’s happening in their own lobby—some were very surprised to find an art fair right outside their rooms! Maybe we can share news earlier or even leave them little notes on their beds? Ideas welcome!
We’re also thinking carefully about how to make Sunday feel less sad, even as sold works come down and people start heading home. What would you want to see?
We’re already dreaming up ideas for 2026 and would love your feedback.
If you have thoughts to share, let us know - and as a thank you, we’ll even give you 15% off your stay.
If you joined us this year: thank you so much for making it what it was. If you couldn’t make it, I hope this little rundown gives you a taste of what went on—and maybe tempts you to join us next year.
Wickelfisch for the bags that made our Rhine swims so Basel and so special
Liste for the tickets - your fair is always a highlight for our artists and guests alike
Africa Basel: it was such an honour to witness your first fair; the artists truly loved the experience
Volta for the VIP tickets, another big highlight, and congratulations on your 20th edition
Gelateria di Berna: a true treat - thank you for the ice cream and for being such wonderful neighbours right in Gundeli.
LWN PJs for the absolute cutest sets we could have dreamed of (and that our artists basically lived in all week)
The collectors Laura and Sandra for generously sharing their stories and advice during our talk - it meant so much
Basel Tourism for including us in their official programme and for the water bottles that kept everyone going in the Basel heat
Toni Mate for keeping everyone refreshed at the opening night—nothing like a cool drink in hand while talking art.
Caroline Hancox for capturing our special moments on camera - check out her work!
And of course Hyve for hosting us once again - it's been such a pleasure growing and experimenting with you over these past two years
If you’re a brand looking to get involved in one of the hottest up-and-coming fairs, next year could be your chance. We have all sorts of fun ideas for collaborations, so don’t be shy - say hi. Be in the goodie bag, be the goodie bag.
Brands we’d love to chat to? Suncream (because it’s Basel in June), earplugs (it’s a hostel - what better placement?), sleepwear (maybe a custom artist-designed PJ set?), even a shoe brand that wants to help us co-host our city art walks. Don’t worry - we have plenty of ideas!
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the brilliant artists: Ana, Bao, MOMO, Kiera, Rianne, Jade, Anne-Mei, Tanisha, Chia Ying, Tabea, Lucia and Koshika, our content creator in residence Jewel, and our event producers Carly, Celeste and Manas, who brought it all to life and spent this wonderful week with us in Basel. From exhibiting wonderful art, to sharing deeply personal work, from running workshops to documenting it all - we’re endlessly grateful. You can learn more about all the participants and their work here.
And a huge thank you to our incredible afternoon shift volunteers, who joined us from in and around Basel and kept everything running smoothly with a smile (even during the heat, the hammering, and the ice cream rushes). You made the magic happen: Betta, Emilia, Katharina, Kishore, Laura, Tayla, Sala and Sara.
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