Actress wins Swiss abroad award
The New York-based actress, Linda Geiser, has been awarded the "Swiss abroad of the year" prize for her work in promoting Swiss artists and art in the United States.
Geiser, who has lived in the Big Apple since 1962, received SFr10,000 ($7,260) at a ceremony on Wednesday night in Zurich honouring her achievements.
The international section of Switzerland’s Radical Party grants the prize – now in its second year – to support of the work of an outstanding Swiss personality or institution abroad.
Geiser’s work promoting Swiss artists includes the “Bern Stipend” programme, which gives four Swiss artists the opportunity to train in New York each year, under Geiser’s guidance.
Since setting up the programme over 20 years ago, the actress – who was born in Wabern near Bern – has given 70 artists the opportunity to travel to New York.
Instrumental
In the 1980s Geiser was instrumental in the establishment of the Swiss Institute of New York, which promotes Switzerland’s artists.
In the recent years, Geiser, born in 1935, has offered special tours to Swiss women interested in the New York art scene.
She has returned to Switzerland on a number of occasions to perform in theatre, film and television productions.
Geiser – who has her own theatre and television-production company – competed with 24 other Swiss for the prize.
Last year, the 82-year-od Swiss-Hungarian, Raymonde Berthoud, won the prize for his work with disadvantaged people in Hungary.
swissinfo with agencies
The New York-based actress, Linda Geiser, has been awarded the “Swiss abroad of the year” prize.
She was recognized for her work in promoting Swiss artists and art in the United States. She has received SFr10,000 in prize money for the honour.
Geiser, born near Bern, has lived in the Big Apple since 1962.
The international section of Switzerland’s Radical Party grants the prize to support of the work of an outstanding Swiss personality or institution abroad.
Geiser set up the “Bern Stipend” – which gives four Swiss artists the opportunity to train in New York each year.
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