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TORONTO ... Zeitgeist. The spirit of a time. This September
marks an exciting fresh start for the Goethe-Institut Toronto.
The Goethe-Institut Toronto is about to re-open newly renovated
offices, state-of-the-art classrooms, and a new multi-media
library, at University and King Streets in Toronto.
The Goethe-Institut Toronto is a sophisticated
international organization that connects Canadians with
contemporary, often cutting-edge, German arts, ideas, culture,
and language.
A special VIP reception to celebrate the grand
reopening will take place on Tuesday, September 8 at 6pm, at the
newly renovated Goethe-Institut. The Goethe-Institut Toronto
will be honoured by the presence of Prof. Dr.
Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of the 146
Goethe-Institutes worldwide. As the president of the Stiftung
Preußischer Kulturbesitz (National Cultural Heritage Foundation)
in Germany, Klaus-Dieter Lehmann was responsible for the
National Museums, the State Library of Berlin and the State
Archive - the largest cultural ensemble in Europe. In 2008 he
became President of the Goethe-Institut. This is his first visit
to Canada. Acclaimed Cologne artist Heike Weber, who was
commissioned to create an original work of art for the Goethe
Institut's library, will also be in attendance at the VIP
reception.
The public is invited to the Goethe-Institut Toronto
Open House on September 25, 2009 from 11am to 6pm. The Goethe-Institut
Toronto offices, classrooms, and library are located on the
southwest corner of University & King, at 100 University Avenue,
North Tower, Suite 201, in Toronto.
The Goethe-Institut draws on Germany's rich and
vibrant culture to work as a presenter, service provider,
educator, and partner for Canadians with an interest in German
language and European culture.
Highlights of the Goethe-Institut's recent cultural
presentations and partnerships include bringing "Emilia
Galotti," by the Deutsche Theater Berlin, to be the first
international production at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival,
and presenting "States of Longing - 14 Films from the Berlin
School" at Cinematheque Ontario. Looking ahead, in 2010 the
Goethe-Institut will co-present a theatre performance at the
PuSH Festival in Vancouver and Luminato Festival in Toronto.
Canadian partners in 2009 include: The Power
Plant, IFOA, Vancouver Art Gallery, Luminato Festival of Arts &
Creativity, TIFF, Eh!U Film Festival, OCAD, Kitchener-Waterloo
Art Gallery, University of British Columbia, Munk Centre for
International Studies, Ryerson University, University of
Waterloo, Canadian Jazz Festivals, Appleby College, and the St.
Georges School Vancouver.
During his stay in Toronto, Klaus-Dieter Lehmann will also
officially announce the long-term partnership with
Ryerson University to present German film screenings at
the Eaton Lecture Hall. The Goethe-Institut's film archive
with nearly one hundred 16mm films as well as its 16 and 35mm
projectors found a new home at Ryerson. The cooperation kicks
off in October with the film series "1989-2009: 20 Years after
the Fall of the Berlin Wall".
The Goethe-Institut Toronto offers top-quality
language courses and certification for individuals and
companies, and training opportunities for German teachers. The
renovated classrooms provide a highly effective learning
environment, and new web sites "Step into German" and "Vitamin D
for Highschools" offer fun and extensive material for teachers
and students.
The new multi-media library is where anyone can
come in and explore the latest books, DVDs, magazines and other
materials from Germany in English and German. The collection
focuses on contemporary German literature, film, art, including
photography design and architecture, German geography, history,
biography, and materials for learning German as a second
language.
Sometimes confused with a consulate or German ex-pat
organization, the work of the Goethe-Institut Toronto is focused
on bringing contemporary culture to English-speaking Canadians
from Ontario through to BC. Together with the institutes in
Montréal and Ottawa, the Goethe-Institut Toronto has invested
millions of dollars in the Canadian contemporary arts and
education industry over its 48 years of presence in Canada.
Sonja Griegoschewski, the Director at the Goethe-Institut
Toronto, says, "I'm very excited about our Grand
Opening and our president's first visit to Canada. My team and
I can't wait to welcome the first language students, library
users and guest for cultural events in our newly renovated
institute here in Toronto. It's a fresh start for our
organization. Even though our space is now smaller, it has
become more efficient and our budget for projects has grown.
2009 and 2010 will see exciting events all over Canada."
www.goethe.de/toronto
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