Inside-outside the Goethe Institut in Budapest

The Goethe Institut in Budapest opened its gates in March 1988, becoming the first such establishment in the Eastern-European region. As the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany, the aim of Goethe Institut is to bring the multifaceted image of Germany to the world.

“Just like all divisions of the global network, the Budapest office provides access to German language, culture and society,” says Jutta Gehrig, Director of the Goethe Institut in Budapest. Through its diverse activities, the Goethe-Institut contributes to programs in Budapest, in the fields of film, dance, theater, literature and translation. Gehrig was very pleased with this year’s 19th International Book Festival, where an exhibition on the sixty-year history of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade entitled ‘Objections’ was opened by two of the Hungarian recipients of the prize, György Konrád (1991) and Péter Esterházy (2004), along with the book festival’s guest of honor, the Italian writer Claudio Magris. “One important goal is to promote international cultural cooperation by organizing a broad variety of events to present German culture. We build bridges that cross cultural and political borders. The fact that people speak openly with one another and work together in a visionary way enables something brand new and exceptional to be generated from our work. In Budapest, a large number of cultural programs are introduced year round, in cooperation with other cultural institutions, Hungarian artists and even Budapest citizens,” she adds.
“We are really proud of our snowman, for instance,” Gehrig says unexpectedly. “An interactive Christmas installation by Kitchen Budapest and Goethe Institut, this chubby artificial snowman was placed in front of our building last winter, for children and adults to hug him. The idea was that the more he gets hugged (by people who gather round in full circle, holding each other’s hand), the happier he becomes, and the facade of the building lights up. Let’s say, that we had a very bright Xmas while he was on duty until Jan 6, and the project fulfilled its aim conveying the message: together we can have more fun.”

Great location
The director adds that, to her satisfaction, the area of Ráday Street in the dynamically developing part of District 9 or Ferencváros is one of the liveliest parts of Budapest. Having served in Bulgaria, Latvia and Serbia, in addition to the head office in Munich, Gehrig has a deep understanding to the diverse cultures of the CEE region. Hungary, she says, was on her wish-list, when choosing her destination following her Belgrade position. Describing the Hungarian language as melodiously beautiful and the city as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, Gehrig also has comments on the Hungarian cultural scene in general.
“Financial problems are to be seen everywhere,” she says. To her opinion, it is very risky to rely exclusively on state support. “It does happen that cultural institutions fall victim to budget cuts.
A broader cooperation with the corporate sector, public and private institutions, foundations and a little stronger lobbying, even internationally, might help,” the director notes. “This is what we are trying to do in Germany, and at the Goethe Institute.” The latest initiation of Goethe Institute, currently active in many European countries is the Goethe-Guerilla Project, which is a good example of cooperation and networking. It was initiated to catch the eye of young people, aged between 20 and 25, who speak basic German and are bursting with energy and team spirit. “Through a series of seminars and workshops, youngsters will be helped to formulate the content of their interventions and will be offered the experience, networking and public relations necessary to make their ideas spring to life. Basically, we offer them the opportunity to communicate their ideas through a much more universal language: art. We have found an outlet for their creativity. We’ll see what they make of it,” notes Gehrig, adding that another thought provoking series of projects will start in September with the aim of encouraging people to look beyond the boundary of walls, including those of the Goethe Institut in Budapest. Gehrig promises that it is worth it: the whole building is designed very creatively, urging visitors to do the same: think, and think more.
Lingering in the garden, which is, according to Gehrig, a kind of a “happy place,” with a book or a magazine, borrowed from the institution’s library nearby, is a must, especially while the weather is nice. “Now that our institution is active on Facebook, and boasts up to 15,000 fans, I can see that an increasing number of people are interested in our activities and like us.”

Books and courses
Goethe Institut sets internationally recognized standards in the teaching and learning of German as a foreign language. It runs various sophisticated language courses, compiles teaching materials and trains teachers as well. The institute also organizes individual and specialist courses which are geared towards specific topics and requirements. She adds that besides the traditional language teaching, the institution also teaches tailor-made German for employees of companies and ministries. The information center of the Goethe-Institut serves as a resource for those interested in Germany. Books and media are available for all who want to study or teach German, daily and weekly papers, specialist journals are also available to keep guests informed about latest trends and current issues.