Austrian Cultural Forum NYC

What is the Austrian Cultural Forum New York really?

Exhibition hall? Concert hall? Literary center? Cinema? Library? Consultancy for Austrian creative artists trying to establish themselves in the USA? Funding Pot? A contemporary architectural sculpture in the middle of Manhattan? A department of the Austrian Foreign Ministry? A lighthouse?

It is all of the above and much more. When it first opened its doors to the public in April 2002 the building was immediately placed under landmark protection and American, international, and Austrian media were full of praise and enthusiasm about the fact that it is still possible today to build wonderful architecture beyond rational, profit-focused functionality. Ultimately, this is the stuff that architectural monuments of the future are made of.

In addition, the building lives through the many artists and academics from Austria and the entire world who use it as a platform. With the Cultural Forum, Austria offers the creative public a place of encounter, experimentation and discussion in the world capital of media and culture.

The topics of our exhibitions oscillate within the general framework of Austrian cultural and foreign policy, depending on the respective level of interest in New York. Roughly 50 concerts are staged each year in the genres of contemporary, classical instrumental music, jazz, and world music. Another 100 or so events in the areas of film, literature, science, dance, and performance – in many instances in collaboration with partners in New York and the USA – create a unique, transdisciplinary laboratory of creativity.

In New York it is especially important to remember that this institution actually goes back to the year 1942, when a group of undaunted Austrians who had been displaced by the Nazis founded an Austrian Institute in New York. Actors, musicians, poets, and academics from our homeland were determined to uphold Austrian culture and tradition even in the worst of times and give a helping hand to their exiled compatriots. They certainly dreamed that one day our country would be free again and be able to present its incredible richness of art and ideas, artists and academics in the USA. And they knew that the art of today will be the cultural heritage of tomorrow.

After all, a lighthouse has to shine!

Andreas Stadler
Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum