A lawyer and musician by training, Yves Fischer (b. 1974) joined the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) in 2002. He has been involved in the drafting and implementation of various legislative projects relating to culture both nationally and internationally. From April 2006 he headed the Specialised Body for the International Transfer of Cultural Property and the Contact Bureau on Looted Art at the FOC. Here, his tasks included negotiating bilateral treaties and dealing with a number of cases involving looted art.
After studying in New York, Bern and Paris, Yves Fischer completed a master’s degree in cultural history and culture management at the Sorbonne. Prior to joining the FOC he was a legal consultant to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris. While studying in Bern he also taught at a music school in the city.
Yves Fischer has been Deputy Director of the FOC since 1 June 2008. He is in charge of the FOC’s operational management and shares responsibility for implementing the Confederation’s culture policy.
