The Charters group is under discussion to acquire the Charlie Chaplin museum in Switzerland belonging to several private shareholders. Inaugurated in 2016 at the Manoir de Ban, in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Chaplin’s World is a singular cultural destination, combining cinematographic heritage and immersive scenographic devices. Erected in the 14 hectare domain where Charlie Chaplin lived his last twenty-five years, the museum welcomed the COVID-19 before 300,000 visitors per year. The whole is deployed in three complementary spaces: the historic house, preserved with its period furniture, the studio, a large building of 1,350 m² which recreates the decorations of silent films and gives access to more than 3,000 objects and archives as well as a four hectare park overlooking Lake Geneva.
However, the museum crosses a bad financial pass. According to Timehis attendance had dropped from the COVIR and the owners were no longer able to reimburse the loan of 10 million Swiss francs (€ 10.7 million) granted by the State of Vaud.
Chaplin’s World’s plan.
© Chaplin’s World
The acquisition of this site by Museum Studio, the cultural center of the French Charters group, marks a new step in the consolidation of its active portfolio. Under the terms of the press release, Museum Studio will not be limited to exploiting the existing museum: the displayed ambition is to develop a Chaplin’s World brand internationally, by capitalizing on this universal cultural icon.
Founded by Michaël Friborg after the repurchase of chargers in 2015, Museum Studio is an actors of weight of cultural engineering. The group has acquired several international entities specializing in the design of museums and scenographic journeys: D&P in the United States, very active in memorial and history, DPM and Event sites in the United Kingdom, or Skira in Italy, publisher who has become an exhibition producer. Museum Studio gave a turnover of 140 million euros in 2024 for an operating profit of 18.5 million euros and a turnover of 80 million euros in the first half of 2025.
The acquisition of Chaplin’s World is part of a dynamic already at work: Museum Studio multiplies its incursions in the immersive field. In 2024, the group took control of the Grand Palais immersive in Paris, trying to save a deficit structure. He organized two immersive exhibitions: “Miguel Chevalier – Pixels” (November 2024 – April 2025) and until the end of September “Clubbing”. Museum Studio did not provide frequentation figures.
This operation remains subject to the finalization of the current discussions between the various stakeholders and, if necessary, to the authorizations and prior approvals as well as to certain usual suspensive conditions.
