Austrian Cultural Forum New York facts for kids
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| Established | 1942 |
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| Location | 11 East 52nd Street, Manhattan, New York, United States |
The Austrian Cultural Forum New York (ACFNY) is a special place in New York City that helps share Austrian culture. It's like an embassy for art, music, and ideas from Austria. ACFNY is one of two main Austrian cultural offices in the United States; the other is in Washington, D.C.. It's part of a big network of Austrian Cultural Forums all around the world, managed by Austria's government.
Contents
History of ACFNY
How the Austrian Cultural Forum Started
The ACFNY began in 1942 as the Austrian Institute. It was created in New York City by Austrian immigrants who had moved to the United States. Their goal was to keep Austrian culture alive and share it with others. A key person at that time was Irene Harand, who was the institute's vice president.
Moving to a New Home
In 1963, the institute opened offices at its current spot at 11 East 52nd Street in Manhattan. It became the official cultural office for the Austrian government. In 2002, the organization, now called the Austrian Cultural Forum, moved into a brand-new building at the same location.
Who Leads the Forum?
The ACFNY is part of the Austrian consulate in New York. Since September 2022, Susanne Keppler-Schlesinger has been the Director. She is an experienced diplomat from Austria. Many talented people have led the forum before her, helping it grow and succeed.
The Unique Building
Designing the New Building
In 1992, a competition was held to find the best design for ACFNY's new building. Out of 226 ideas, Raimund Abraham was chosen as the winning architect. The building was finished in 2002.
A Tall Building on a Small Lot
This building is very special because of its size and shape. It's on a small piece of land in Manhattan, only about 7.5 meters (24.5 feet) wide and 24.7 meters (81 feet) deep. Even though the lot is small, the building is 24 stories tall and reaches about 84 meters (275 feet) into the sky! This makes it quite unusual in architecture.
What's Inside the Building?
The outside of the building is covered in glass and aluminum. It gets narrower as it goes up, following city rules. Inside, you'll find many different spaces:
- Areas for art exhibitions
- A theater for performances
- A library with books and music
- Offices and meeting rooms
- Apartments for the staff
The library is named after Frederic Morton. It has over 10,000 books focused on Austrian art and culture.
Activities and Events
Sharing Austrian Culture
Since it started, ACFNY has been a place for Austrians and Americans to connect through culture. It helps introduce Austrian artists to people all over the United States, except for Washington D.C., which has its own cultural forum.
What You Can Experience at ACFNY
The ACFNY building has five floors dedicated to art exhibitions, mostly showing modern art. Some exhibits even use the building's unique design as part of the art! You can also enjoy concerts and performances in the building's auditorium or at other places in New York. Besides films, ACFNY also hosts interesting talks, readings, and book presentations.
