The artist is present entitles a piece and documentary film by the great performance artist Marina Abramovic. The phrase also describes what distinguishes a performance: a work of art that is being presented live and in front of an audience by the artist himself. Space and time merge. What remains is the documentation of what has been shown.

Performance is booming, not only in Switzerland. The lively and diverse scene is fostered by the Performancepreis Schweiz: the competition, that invites contestants from all parts of Switzerland, is held annually, offers a proper platform for live art and is supported by a widespread public. The event, which lasts several days, presents numerous performances, that are being judged by a group of experts and a winner gets awarded with the Performancepreis Schweiz. In 2015 this important occasion is being held at Kunstmuseum Luzern, accompanied by an extensive public program. For several days Lucerne will thus become the centre of the Swiss performance scene.