History

Together with his brother Klaus, Heinrich Gebert (6 July 1917, Rapperswil, until 8 August 2007, Wollerau) took over the management of their parents' plumbing company in Rapperswil in 1953, which was from then on run under the company name Geberit. They subsequently expanded the business to become Europe's leading manufacturer of flushing systems and other sanitary installations. The two brothers sold the company in 1997 because no successor could be found within the family.

After Heinrich Gebert withdrew from active business life, he devoted himself to regional and social projects, established charitable organisations and supported artistic creation. In 1996, he provided the capital stock for the Rehmann Museum in Laufenburg. The Gebert Rüf Foundation Basel, a scientific foundation established in 1998 with the aim of strengthening Switzerland as a leading business location, attracted a high degree of attention.

The Heinrich Gebert Kulturstiftung Appenzell was founded in Heinrich Gebert's personal friendship with the painter Carl Walter Liner. Gebert's commitment to modern and contemporary art and culture began already back in the 1950s with the establishment of an extensive collection of works by Carl August and Carl Walter Liner. In 1997 he initiated the "Stiftung Museum Carl Liner Vater und Sohn" (Carl Liner Father and Son Foundation) in Appenzell, which was renamed the Heinrich Gebert Kulturstiftung Appenzell in 2014. In 1998, the "Museum Liner Appenzell" (today: Kunstmuseum Appenzell) was opened, designed by Annette Gigon & Mike Guyer, Zurich. The building was classified as a monument category B from the beginning.

In 2000, the cooperation with the Fondazione Marguerite Arp-Hagenbach in Locarno-Solduno was initiated. The Fondazione Marguerite Arp was complemented in 2013/14 with the construction of a new show depository, built by Annette Gigon & Mike Guyer, Zurich.

The Heinrich Gebert Kulturstiftung Appenzell opened the Kunsthalle Ziegelhütte (since 2022: Kunsthalle Appenzell) in 2003. The old brickworks, built around a 16th century kiln, was converted into a multifunctional building by architect Robert Bamert, St. Gallen. It combines exhibition architecture, industrial monument, stage and event venue. The opening marked the beginning of the classical concert series on the platform above the kiln every 1st Friday of the month.

Heinrich Gebert made possible both the construction of the Kunstmuseum Appenzell and that of the Kunsthalle Appenzell and ensured their operation by providing financial resources. He donated part of his private art collection to the Foundation in 1998 and 2003/04, which Myriam Gebert supplemented in 2007 with works from her art collection. In 2007 Heinrich Gebert died. Myriam Gebert was a member of the Board of Foundation of the Heinrich Gebert Kulturstiftung Appenzell until 2022.