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The Austrian Cultural Forum in Manhattan, New York. The Austrian Cultural Forum (ACF) in New York City is one of Austria's two cultural representation offices in the United States (the other is in Washington D.C.). It is part of the worldwide network of Austrian Cultural Forums of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.
History
The Austrian Cultural Forum New York was founded in New York in 1942 by Austrian emigrants as the "Austrian Institute" for the purpose of preserving and disseminating Austrian culture. In 1963, it opened offices at its current location, 11 East 52nd Street, in Manhattan as the official cultural representation office of the Austrian Federal government. In 2002, the institution, now called the Austrian Cultural Forum, moved into a new building at the same address. The Cultural Forum is a division of the Austrian consulate in New York and since September 1, 2007, has been headed by Andreas Stadler. His predecessors include Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, Wolfgang Waldner, Peter Marboe, Fritz Cocron, and Wilhelm Schlag.
Building
Architect Raimund Abraham was the winner among 226 submissions in a competition held in 1992 to choose a design for the ACF's new building. Completed in 2002, the building is situated on a plot in Manhattan that is only 24.5 feet wide. It is considered as an architectural anomaly because despite its small footprint it is 24 stories and 275 feet tall. The building's facade is clad in glass and aluminum and gradually tapers to a narrow point as the building slants upwards. The structure is regarded as one of the most interesting architectural projects in recent New York history. It houses exhibition spaces, a theater, a library for books and audio recordings, offices, seminar and reception rooms, and apartments for the officers of the institution.
Activities
Since its founding, the ACF has served as a place for cultural exchange between Austrians and Americans and introduces Austrian artists at venues all over the USA. It is responsible for cultural and academic cooperation throughout the United States of America, with the exception of Washington D.C., which has its own cultural forum under the auspices of the Austrian Embassy. It organizes its own events and promotes collaborative efforts with various cultural institutions in the USA, with an emphasis on contemporary, artistic, sociopolitical, and academic subjects. Events
Music and Dance
Concerts and performances are presented either in the in-house auditorium or at various venues in New York. Outside performances are organized in cooperation with American partner institutions, and have included concerts at Carnegie Hall and Judson Memorial Church. Among other events, Moving Patterns, an electronic music festival first staged in spring 2005, introduces Austrian electronic and experimental musicians in the USA and is considered an important contribution to the electronica scene. Film The ACF regularly screens films on Austrian subjects or by Austrian filmmakers as part of a year-round series and also shows films in special screenings in the context of other events organized by the Cultural Forum. Discussions and Readings The activities of the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York also include a variety of podium discussions, readings, and book presentations.
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