annual report 2023 – gaiamedia foundation
After a quiet start to the year with regular events in the gaiamedia lounge, such as THE PSYCHEDELIC SALON and the Psychedelic Integration Circle, a year full of events kicked off with Bicycle Day on April 19, the 80th anniversary of the discovery of LSD, and the 30th anniversary of our foundation, on 23 July.
The place of pride belongs to the annual Bike Ride organized by the gaiamedia Foundation on the occasion of Bicycle Day. A large group of members and sympathizers cycled along the historic route from Sandoz in Basel to the chemist’s home in Bottmingen, anologous to Albert Hofmann’s bicycle ride with his laboratory assistant Susi Ramstein. It was a colourful and fun event, followed by a drink in the gaiamedia lounge.
To mark the 80th anniversary of the discovery of LSD, two other major events were held in Basel under the title #LSD8∞0, supported by the gaiamedia Foundation in terms of ideas, personnel and funding. The scientific part, a symposium organized by the Swiss Medical Association for Psycholytic Therapy (SÄPT), was granted a deficit guarantee by the gaiamedia Foundation, which, thanks to a good financial start, could be rededicated to holding the holistic sister event at OstQuai in Basel, promoted by Eleusis Society, the Swiss Psychedelic Society.
Both events were filled to capacity and, with the contributions of numerous speakers, musicians and artists, their lectures, concerts, performances, works of art and happenings, covered a very broad spectrum in the field of psychedelics and LSD. #LSD8∞0 gave both experts and laypeople a deep insight into the diverse range of topics to which the gaiamedia Foundation is dedicated. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their commitment.
On 23 July, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the foundation with a party in the courtyard of the gaiamedia lounge. Numerous friends, members and patrons of our foundation attended. The event was accompanied by a fantastic live set by musician Alain Meyer.
In addition to the regular opening hours on Thursday afternoons, the gaiamedia lounge is available to members and patrons of the foundation at any time. They can use the gaiamedia lounge by arrangement for their own events such as lectures, film screenings or meetings of a charitable or commercial nature, for small gatherings or as a research and work space. The gaiamedia lounge is used by the Psychedelic Awareness & Research Association Basel (PARAB) as its regular venue.
Slight renovations have been carried out. The gaiamedia library – our unique collection of books, magazines and artifacts about psychedelics, consciousness, literature, ecology, the sixties and shamanism – has been expanded to around 3,500 titles and is now finally available as a reference library. The extensive cataloging of the collection is progressing and should reach the first milestone of “viewed and inventoried” in 2024. There is still the idea of developing a collaboration with the Bibliotheca Psychonautica.
gaiamedia goodnews is sent out monthly in German and English to around 5500 subscribers worldwide. The integration of gaiamedia goodnews with the social media channels of the gaiamedia Foundation and the highly popular gaiamedia Foundation Basel YouTube channel, equipped with numerous videos, is in progress.
Susanne G. Seiler’s PSYCHEDELIC SALON Basel, a sister event to the Salon of the same name at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, takes place in the gaiamedia lounge on the third Thursday evening of every month and attracts a regular audience discussing current topics from science and research.
In December 2023, we found a new Managing Director in James Merron. James joined us after completing his post-doctorate on the “Relationship between Science, Technology and Society” at the University of Basel. He takes over from Jonas Hässig, who is now focusing on his own project. We would like to thank Jonas warmly for his work and wish him all the best.
A big thank you goes to our wonderful advisory board members Susanne G. Seiler and Jean-Michel Stoessel. Your energetic support gives the gaiamedia Foundation the momentum it needs.
There is a good working relationship between the Foundation Board members Marion Neumann, Laura Bättig, Alexander Suter and Kerim Seiler. Great projects and many events await you again in 2024 at Hochstrasse 70 in Basel. Come and visit us!
Kerim Seiler, Member of the gaiamedia Board<img src=”http://pl02.owen.prolitteris.ch/na/plzm.0f674b35-ddb9-4e57-84a8-6a8273ffa1de” height=”1″ width=”1″ border=”0″>
P.S. You’ll find us at the gaiamedia lounge, in the back yard of Hochstrasse 70 (behind Basel’s SBB station, tram stop Peter Merian), every Thursday afternoon from 14 – 18 h. Welcome!