Sculpture at Schoenthal is an art foundation in Switzerland. It is named after the Schönthal Monastery, a former church near the village of Langenbruck, Basel-Landschaft, which is now used for temporary art exhibitions. An array of sculptures, including some by well-known artists, is dotted around the monastery area and the surrounding countryside.
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Schönthal Monastery (German: Kloster Schönthal) was built in approximately 1140. It was annulled during the Reformation in 1529, after which it was used variously as a toolshed, dairy farm and brickworks. In 1967 it was put under cultural heritage management,[1] and in 1986 the first archaeological digs and renovations began.
Sculpture at Schoenthal was opened in 2000 as a "cultural meeting place" incorporating the monastery and surrounding area, with the motto "Art and nature in dialogue". The following year its founder, John Schmid, transferred the entire set-up to the newly-established Sculpture at Schoenthal Foundation.[2] The historic building now serves as a gallery for temporary exhibitions and as a seminar venue.
A number of well-known Swiss and international artists have integrated works of sculpture into the surrounding Jura countryside, including Tony Cragg, Nigel Hall, Richard Long and David Nash.