The joint appearance of the Swiss Consulate General in New York, the City of Zurich, the ETH, the University of Zurich and the Zurich University of the Arts in New York has found a large audience. Around 6,000 visitors attended the cultural and scientific events. The local media dedicated several articles to the festival. More than 5 million online contacts were generated via social media In a one-week program, old and new ideas that radiate from Zurich to the world were presented to an interested New York audience.

Cultural programme dedicated to Dada

The cultural program was dedicated to Dada. The Collegium Novum interpreted surrealist silent films from the 1920s, the exhibition "Dada in nuce" from the Cabaret Voltaire and films by Klaus Lutz showed the explosive power of Dada. Artists from New York and Zurich hosted a performative Dada Ball. The Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK realized two documentary screenings on Swiss artists, a jazz concert and a panel discussion on the "Helvetica" font, which is also ubiquitous in New York. The cultural programme was rounded off by performances by Dieter Meier's band "Out of Chaos", a performance by Zurich dancer Simone Aughterlony and a performance by Zurich actress Graziella Rossi. These events have been recognized by the New York Times in various articles.

Insights into Zurich research and applied science

The festival programme also offered insights into Zurich's cutting-edge science and research. Rolf Pfeifer and Ernst Fehr, professors at the University of Zurich, discussed their globally acclaimed work on artificial intelligence and neuroeconomics at a panel discussion. Lino Guzzella, Professor and President-elect of ETH Zurich, explained in an audience lecture on "Cognitive Computing" what it means when computers begin to think for themselves and in a public seminar on risk, representatives of the Zurich insurance industry were presented with novel concepts for the early detection of actually unpredictable events and catastrophes.