Goethe-Institut, New York facts for kids
| Headquarters | 30 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003 United States |
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The Goethe-Institut New York is a special organization located at 30 Irving Place in Manhattan, New York City. It's part of a big, worldwide group called the Goethe-Institut. This group is a non-profit association, which means it doesn't try to make money. Instead, it helps people learn about German culture and the German language. They do this by offering fun ways to explore German ideas and society.
The institute also gives out special help, like money for translating books. These books can be about important topics like democracy, what's happening in the world, European history, or awesome new German stories.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of the Institute
Starting Small: 120 East 56th Street
The Goethe-Institut New York began as the Goethe-Haus (New York). This group was started on April 12, 1957. Its goal was to help people from Germany and the United States understand each other better through culture.
The first office was called the Goethe Etage. It was in a building at 120 East 56th Street. This space was big enough for books, small art shows, and talks.
The first big speech was given by James B. Conant. He used to be the head of Harvard University. He also worked as America's first Ambassador to Germany. Another important person was John Jay McCloy. He was a banker who first suggested creating this cultural center. James B. Conant became the President of Goethe House. John J. McCloy became the Chairman of its Board. They helped make the center a place where German artists and cultural leaders could share their work.
A New Home: 1014 Fifth Avenue
The German government later gave Goethe House a new home. It was a big house at 1014 Fifth Avenue. This mansion became the home of Goethe House for over 50 years!
In 1969, the Goethe House joined the main Goethe-Institut group in Munich, Germany. It kept its original name but started getting money from the German government.
In 2021, a famous architect, David Chipperfield Architects, was chosen. They will turn the building into a new center for talks between Germany and America. This project will cost about 20 million euros.
Art Experiments: 38 Ludlow Street
In 2008, a special art space was created called Goethe-Institut Curatorial Residencies Ludlow 38. It was designed by artists Ethan Breckenridge and Liam Gillick. This space was made for trying out new ideas in modern art. It was located on the Lower East Side. Different German art groups helped run the programs there each year.
Moving On: 72 Spring Street
On April 15, 2010, the Goethe-Institut New York moved its library and offices. They went to 72 Spring Street. This new spot became a place for talks, performances, movie showings, and art displays.
Current Location: 30 Irving Place
In March 2015, the institute opened its newest spaces. They are on the first and fourth floors of 30 Irving Place. This location has rooms for talks and movies, a library, reading areas, language classrooms, and offices.
Connecting North America
The Goethe-Institut New York also helps coordinate other institutes. It works with 10 institutes and one center across North America. This includes places in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. All these places work together for the same goals.
In the United States, you can find institutes in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. There's also a Goethe-Zentrum in Atlanta. In Canada, there are institutes in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. In Mexico, there's one in Mexico City. Even Cuba is part of this region, and they are working to open an institute in Havana.
The Goethe-Institut New York Library
The Goethe-Institut New York Library is a lending library. This means you can borrow books from it! It has about 8,000 books and other items. The collection focuses on four main areas:
- Modern German art
- New and old German literature
- German films
- German history from the late 1800s to today
Cool Exhibitions (A Few Examples)
The institute has hosted many interesting exhibitions and events over the years. Here are a few:
- 1968: Max Beckmann, Die Druckgrafik (Art Prints)
- 1973: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Retrospective (A look back at his films)
- 1985: Wols, Drawings and Watercolors
- 1992: Rirkrit Tiravanija, Consumed
- 1999: Nam June Paik, Buddha Watching TV, 1974/97
- 2004: Candida Höfer: Traces / Spuren
- 2016–17: Elias Wessel, Stuck Together Pieces!
