Musée Ariana was built at the end of the 19th century by Genevan art collector Gustave Revilliod specifically to house his multidisciplinary collection. It is now one of the world's most important museums devoted to ceramics and glass, housing over 24,000 ceramic pieces and 3,000 examples of glassware and stained glass illustrating the history of these crafts throughout the centuries.

The museum also supports contemporary creative endeavor through regular temporary exhibitions. Guided visits, roundtable events and children's workshops feature on its educational programme, while its library houses an extensive collection of texts dedicated to the subject. Headquartered on site is the International Academy of Ceramics, which supports and promotes ceramics professionals around the world.