The Basel Museum of Ancient Art and Ludwig Collection is the only Swiss Museum, devoted exclusively to the art and culture of the Mediterranean area. As one of the five large public museums of the canton Basel-Stadt it was placed in buildings of historical importance in the center of town (in front of the Kunstmuseum). With the construction of a gallery underneath the courtyard the exhibition surface has recently been enlarged by 600 square meters.

In addition to the scientific study and professional treatment of the objects the purpose of an attractive and up-to-date display will thus be improved. In this way the dialogue between antiquity and the present time is broadened by an additional facet, the Museum of Ancient Art not only acting as a trustee of cultural possessions but also as a dynamic place in the cultural scene. The special exhibitions which have been arousing considerable public attention even beyond the Swiss borders, are part of the museum's marked commitment.

The permanent collections date mainly from the Egyptian, Greek, Italic, Etruscan and Roman cultures, thus covering a period of time from the 4th millennium B.C. to the 6th century A.D. Sculptures and pottery (Greek vases) occupy a central position within the museum, but gold jewellery, bronze statuettes and clay figures are also worthily represented. As an affiliation to the Basel Museum of Ancient Art, the Skulpturhalle (Mittlere Strasse 17) exhibits its plaster casts collection of famous Greek and Roman sculptures. With installations by contemporary artists new points of view are introduced, thus on the one hand questioning the usual approach to antiquity in a provocative way and on the other hand giving new inspiration to contemporary art, which fact draws to our attention the fact that antiquity is still alive in our modern minds.

The Basel Museum of Ancient Art (with ist affiliation Skulpturhalle) has, since its foundation in 1961, been a place in which ancient art and culture and our awareness of this period, which has without doubt strongly influenced our identity, are again and again examined from different angles and in different contexts. It thus represents a meeting point of different ages with differing valuesystems. With the resulting dialogue we want to give the visitor an understanding of the different points of view thus hopefully sensitizing them for a stimulating discussion.