Future of Democracy

Radical Diversity: Boston

Online discussion with Max Czollek, Mohamed Amjahid, Sultan Doughan and Rachael Cerrotti, December 9, 2020.

Sultan Doughan, Rachael Cerrotti Sultan Doughan©Deni Budman ,Rachael Cerrotti©Meghan Dhaliwal Event Details:
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Escape from America [Total Recall]

A collaborative, experimental live stream performance featuring Olivia Block, DeForrest Brown Jr, Forbes Graham, Bonnie Jones, and Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma from Mouse on Mars.
November 14, 2020

Escape from America Artists © Non-Event Listen to the recording of the live-stream:
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Escape from America / description

Queer Literature: Olivia Wenzel and Sarah Schulman

Online Conversation, September 30, 2020.

Olivia Wenzel, Sarah Schulman Left: Olivia Wenzel © Juliane Werner | Right: Sarah Schulman @ Drew Stevens Wed, 09/30/2020 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ONLINE Link to the Recording:
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QUEER LITERATURE: JAYRÔME ROBINET AND KENNY FRIES

Online Conversation, September 24, 2020.

Kenny Fries, Jayrôme Robinet Left: Kenny Fries © Michael R. Dekker | Right: Jayrôme Robinet © Ali Ghandtschi Event Details:
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Art in Times of Uprisings

Online conversation, June 18, 2020.

Salzmann, Roach, Ajnwojner, BenAharon Salzmann © Esra Rotthoff/Suhrkamp Verlag; Ireon Roach ©private; Rebecca Ajnwojner © Lutz Knospe ; Ben_Aharon © Anna Olivella Link to the Recording:
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  • From left to right: Johannes Ebert (Goethe-Institut General Secretary), Elke Büdenbender (wife of the President), Frank-Walter Steinmeier (President of the Federal Republic of Germany) and Marina May (Goethe-Institut Boston Director) at the stairs of the Goethe-Institut Boston. Photo: Mark Römisch
    From left to right: Johannes Ebert (Goethe-Institut General Secretary), Elke Büdenbender (wife of the President), Frank-Walter Steinmeier (President of the Federal Republic of Germany) and Marina May (Goethe-Institut Boston Director) at the stairs of the Goethe-Institut Boston.
  • President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender arrive at the Goethe-Institut. Photo: Mark Römisch
    President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender arrive at the Goethe-Institut.
  • Consul General Nicole Menzenbach introducing the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Photo: Mark Römisch
    Consul General Nicole Menzenbach introducing the President of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • President of the Federal Republic of Germany during his speech at the Goethe-Institut Boston Photo: Mark Römisch
    President of the Federal Republic of Germany during his speech at the Goethe-Institut Boston
  • President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaking at the Reopening of the Goethe-Institut Boston. Photo: Mark Römisch
    President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaking at the Reopening of the Goethe-Institut Boston.
  • Johannes Ebert, General Secretary of the Goethe-Institut Photo: Mark Römisch
    Johannes Ebert, General Secretary of the Goethe-Institut
  • (left to right): Elke Büdenbender (Wife of Frank-Walter Steinmeier), Marina May (Director of the Goethe-Institut Boston) and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (President of the Federal Republic of Germany). Photo: Mark Römisch
    (left to right): Elke Büdenbender (Wife of Frank-Walter Steinmeier), Marina May (Director of the Goethe-Institut Boston) and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (President of the Federal Republic of Germany).
  • Goethe-Institut General Secretary Johannes Ebert welcomes German professional basketball player Daniel Theis, playing for the Boston Celtics since 2017. Photo: Mark Römisch
    Goethe-Institut General Secretary Johannes Ebert welcomes German professional basketball player Daniel Theis, playing for the Boston Celtics since 2017.
  • Karl Kaiser (Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School) and German Secretary of State Michelle Müntefering Photo: Mark Römisch
    Karl Kaiser (Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School) and German Secretary of State Michelle Müntefering
  • Actress Sibel Kekilli and Kurt Fendt (MIT) Photo: Mark Römisch
    Actress Sibel Kekilli and Kurt Fendt (MIT)
  • Backstage at Symphony Hall before the concert: Mark Volpe (Executive Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestre), President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Elke Büdenbender, Andris Nelsons (Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Gewandhauskapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig), Skadi Jennecke (Minister of Culture in Leipzig), Andreas Schulz (Executive Director of the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig) Photo: Mark Römisch
    Backstage at Symphony Hall before the concert: Mark Volpe (Executive Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestre), President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Elke Büdenbender, Andris Nelsons (Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Gewandhauskapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig), Skadi Jennecke (Minister of Culture in Leipzig), Andreas Schulz (Executive Director of the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig)
  • President Frank-Walter Steinmeier with Elke Büdenbender with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Photo: Mark Römisch
    President Frank-Walter Steinmeier with Elke Büdenbender with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
  • The Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra performed a joint program of Strauss, Haydn, Schönberg and Scriabin at Symphony Hall Photo: Mark Römisch
    The Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra performed a joint program of Strauss, Haydn, Schönberg and Scriabin at Symphony Hall
  • German politicians Friedrich Merz and Peer Steinbrück at the post-concert reception with Beer and Pretzels at the invitation of the German President. Photo: Mark Römisch
    German politicians Friedrich Merz and Peer Steinbrück at the post-concert reception with Beer and Pretzels at the invitation of the German President.
  • The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier Photo: Mark Römisch
    The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier

President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier reopens the Goethe-Institut Boston

On October 31, the newly renovated Goethe-Institut opened its doors to a special visitor: the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife along with a delegation from Germany joined us for a special pre-opening celebration. The visit was followed by a joint concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Germany’s visiting Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, which wrapped up the yearlong friendship campaign “Wunderbar Together” that boosted German-American cultural ties throughout 2019. 

The President offered inspiring words at both venues, thanking the United States for its friendship and emphasizing the importance of upholding transatlantic relations and protecting democratic ideals together. He pointed to the special role the Goethe-Institut has in continuing to build bridges across the Atlantic:

“Not only are these wonderful, newly refurbished rooms the place where many here in New England will encounter the German language for the first time, the Goethe-Institut also provides a forum for people to meet, learn, and forge personal connections. We need forums like this more than ever today.

It is my hope that this building will be a lively venue for discussion and dialogue on what unites and divides us. I hope that it will be a place where people – bearing in mind the great history of U.S.-German relations – will work on our planet’s common future.”

You can listen to Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s speech at the Goethe-Institut and get a taste for the special evening in the videos below.
Download the English translation here:

And, stay tuned for the festive public reopening of the Goethe-Institut in 2020 when the final touch-ups are completed and all permits have been obtained. We look forward to celebrating with you!