What we do

As the globally active cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany, we are committed to fostering understanding between Germany, Europe, and the world. This mission is based on our association’s objectives and the framework agreement with the Federal Foreign Office. Worldwide, we promote knowledge of the German language, cultivate international cultural cooperation, and provide information about cultural, social, and political life in Germany.

Our global network consists of 150 Goethe-Institutes in 99 countries, along with numerous partner institutions. The Federal Foreign Office provides institutional support for our work. As a registered association, we operate independently, are politically neutral, and legally autonomous. About one-third of our budget is self-generated through income from language courses and examinations. In addition, we receive support from the European Union, other federal ministries, as well as foundations and companies both in Germany and abroad.

We contribute to embedding the German language in the education systems of our host countries. We support more than 100,000 schools worldwide in delivering high-quality German instruction and promote the continuing education and qualification of German teachers. Furthermore, to support our association’s objectives, we offer language courses ranging from general German courses to job-oriented language training and seminars on social and cultural awareness. Our offerings include online courses and self-learning programs. Each year, around 1 million people worldwide take a German exam at a Goethe-Institut or with one of our cooperation partners. With a wide range of learning and informational resources, we especially support students and professionals from abroad on their path to Germany.

We believe in the potential of international cultural exchange. Our approximately 20,000 cultural events per year are created in partnership with governmental and non-governmental institutions and civil society initiatives in our host countries. We provide training, advice, and networking opportunities for creatives and support the development of sustainable structures in the cultural and creative industries—for example, through training programs for cultural entrepreneurs or the internationalization of creative enterprises. Through our residency programs, collaborations, and co-productions, we promote global networking among cultural professionals. We offer civil society actors spaces for protection and freedom to enable open dialogue. We maintain democratic discourse even in challenging times. Our work is guided by the values of a democratic, liberal, and rule-of-law-based society.

Through our digital information and learning offerings in more than 60 languages and a network of 87 libraries, we provide spaces for learning, exchange, and participation. We embrace innovative technologies, seize the opportunities of digitalization, and critically reflect on its impact on people and society. Through diverse formats such as informational trips for multipliers, professional exchanges between experts, youth exchange programs, and international festivals, we enable global encounters.

The Goethe-Institut Singapore is open to everyone.

We value collaborative ways of engagement based on a strong sense of partnership and long term commitment with an interest in intercultural and transnational exchange.

Our language courses are suitable for people of all ages to study German at all levels. We certify German language proficiency with our exams programme. We offer teaching materials and further training for German teachers. As the world’s leading German language Institut we act as a consulting agency for companies, schools, universities and public institutions.

We promote and enable cultural exchange and international collaboration in the arts, bilaterally between Singapore and Germany and multilaterally between Germany, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Our programming covers contemporary practices in all areas of the arts. We value innovative, critical and experimental engagements beyond the mainstream and we recognise the diversity of perspectives as an added value. Our initiatives address contemporary issues, while acknowledging the important impact of the arts and culture on public discourse. Our current focus areas are How the New Emerges, Cultures of Equality and Ecology and Sustainable Development.

Our staff and partners value collaborative approaches to initiating and implementing projects. We engage in mutual dialogue throughout the process: from the initial idea to discussions about different types of events, the selection of artists, performers and speakers, funding, organisation and promotion.

Our events take place in German or English either at the Goethe-Institut, online or at our collaborators, depending on the target audience and form of collaboration.

Our activities and programme choices are based on the conviction that art and culture are valuable and meaningful in themselves.

We believe in artistic freedom, the intrinsic value of the arts, their non-utilitarian nature, their added value through their “surplus of meaning” and the important of the arts for social discourse. We believe that dialogue and different perspectives and opinions create value.

As part of the arts ecosystem in Singapore, we also recognise and respect the ways of being and modes of operation of the community in which we are based.