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It's a new year and a new era is about
to begin for the Goethe-Institut Toronto. There's a new leader
at the helm of the international cultural organization that
brings contemporary and cutting-edge German arts, culture,
language, and ideas to Canadians. And the Goethe-Institut
Toronto is about to start renovating their University Avenue
space in downtown Toronto to update the language classrooms and
offices, and to create a new multi-media library with the latest
books, DVDs, magazines and other resources from Germany.
Sonja Griegoschewski has come from Munich to be the new Director
at the Goethe-Institut Toronto. Ms. Griegoschewski specialized
in the management of non-profit organizations, Internet
strategies and the evaluation of cultural projects. Originally
from Berlin, in her 17-year-carreer with the Goethe-Institut she
has worked in Croatia, Bosnia, South Africa, and most recently
in Munich. Under her leadership, the well-established language
courses will continue in Toronto, cutting-edge cultural projects
will be presented throughout Ontario, and additional activities
will include the five provinces of Western and Central Canada.
One of Ms. Griegoschewski's priorities is the relaunch of the
Goethe-Institut's website and the development of additional
innovative online services to benefit Canadians across the
country.
The Goethe-Institut will focus on three key themes in 2009 and
2010: Cultures in Motion, Climate & Environment, and European
Ideas. 2009 also marks the celebration of 20 years after the
fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Goethe-Institut is bringing the
Berlin photo exhibition "Icons of the Wall" to 9 different
cities across Canada.
The Goethe-Institut residency programs are essential to
establishing long-term relationships between Canadian and German
artists and experts. In April, young German-Russian author Alina
Bronsky will stay in Toronto for the MUNK-Goethe Residency.
Alexander Smoltczyk, head of the SPIEGEL office in Rome, will
travel to Vancouver for the UBC-Goethe Writers Residency. Across
the Atlantic, Canadian theatre artist Rebecca Singh is about to
join the State Theatre Stuttgart for two months as part of a
guest program organized by the Goethe-Institut and the
International Theatre Institute (ITI).
The new Goethe-Institut initiatives are not limited to the
cultural programs; the high-profile public German Language
courses and the training programs for Teachers of German will
continue with new energy and resources. Each classroom has had a
technical upgrade and now offers the newest multimedia learning
techniques for the Goethe-Institut's language courses. The
German Foreign Minister's "Schools: Partners for the Future"
initiative will expand. And new partnerships for multilingualism
projects, such as with the Institute of Innovation in Second
Language Education (Edmonton, Alberta), are being developed.
In addition to a new Director, the Goethe-Institut Toronto has
appointed Jutta Brendemühl as the new Cultural Program
Coordinator. Ms. Brendemühl, who has been the Goethe-Institut
Toronto's theatre and literature Project Manager since 2002, has
an M.A. in literature and communication studies. Her
professional background is in publishing, journalism and arts
management.
The newly renovated and revitalized Goethe-Institut Toronto will
be launched in 2009. In the meantime, Sonja Griegoschewski and
her team at the Goethe-Institut will continue to present the
latest arts and ideas to come out of Europe, offer top-quality
German language courses and certification, and connect Canadians
with contemporary German culture.
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