Franco-German Kultur Ensembles foster global dialogue and cultural exchange. Goethe-Institut and French partners unite under one roof to promote language, art, and understanding—strengthening European ties and building trust in an increasingly complex world.
Kultur Ensembles bring Germany and France closer together. Under one roof, the national cultural institutes of both countries jointly offer meeting places, cultural programmes and language courses. Together with the Institut français or the Alliance Française, the Goethe-Institut will operate at eight locations around the world as part of the “Ensemble” in the future. This represents not only an important step for the Franco-German friendship and for European cohesion, but also a contribution to trust and understanding in an increasingly uncertain world.
Through the Kultur Ensembles, France and Germany are breaking new ground in their cooperation. In close partnership with the host countries, they create and sustain spaces for peaceful and respectful intercultural exchange – through artist networks, a wide range of residency programmes, Franco-German media libraries, and by promoting both the German and French languages. A central focus always lies on reflecting socially relevant issues from the host country back to Germany and France.
The establishment of the Kultur Ensembles is based on the Aachen Treaty of 2019 and is organised by the Goethe-Institut, the Federal Foreign Office and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kultur Ensembles have already been opened in Palermo, Sicily, in Ramallah, Palestine, and in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). Further institutes are due to follow shortly in Córdoba, Argentina, and in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Joint projects are already being implemented throughout the year at all eight locations.
