American Academy in Berlin
Encyclopedia
The American Academy in Berlin is a research and cultural institution in Berlin
whose stated mission is to foster a greater understanding and dialogue between the people of the United States and the people of Germany.The American Academy was founded in September 1994 by a group of prominent Americans and Germans, among them its founding chairman Richard Holbrooke
, Henry Kissinger
, Richard von Weizsäcker
, Fritz Stern
and Otto Graf Lambsdorff
, and opened in 1998 with Gary Smith as Executive Director. The organization is entirely funded by private donations, with support coming from private individuals as well as corporations and foundations on both sides of the Atlantic. Since its opening, the American Academy has become an institution the leading German weekly magazine Der Spiegel
called “the world's most important center for American intellectual life outside the US.”
The American Academy in Berlin is located in the Hans Arnhold Center in a villa on the shores of the Wannsee
, a lake within the identically-named district in the southwestern part of Berlin. It was the home of banker and cultural leader Hans Arnhold and his family before they were forced to emigrate to the United States in the 1930s. It was then appropriated and occupied by Walther Funk
, the Minister of Economics of the Third Reich and later president of the Reichsbank
. After the Arnold family regained ownership, the villa was sold to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1958. Being located in the American Zone of occupation after World War II
, it was used as a recreation center by the U.S. Army and as a meeting center for political officials and Americans until after the fall of the Berlin Wall
.
The American Academy in Berlin also maintains an office in New York
.
The American Academy in Berlin awards the Berlin Prize
Fellowship to Americans in the fields of arts, literature, humanities, politics, economics, law, and composition. Usually twelve fellows are in residence at the Hans Arnhold Center for one academic semester. The Berlin Prize includes a monthly stipend, partial board, and residence at the Academy’s Hans Arnhold Center. In addition, the organization provides short-term stipends for visiting leading Americans such as Paul Krugman
, Arthur Miller
, James Wolfensohn
, Tom Daschle
, Samuel Nunn, and Justice Steven Breyer.
Since 2007 the Henry A. Kissinger Prize
has been awarded annually to a European or American who has made a lasting contribution to bettering the transatlantic relationship.Previous recipients of the prize are former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt
(2007); 41st President of the United States of America George H. W. Bush
(2008); former President of the Federal Republic of Germany Richard von Weizsäcker
(2009); New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
(2010); and former German chancellor Helmut Kohl
(2011).
Since June 1999, the organization has been publishing the Berlin Journal
biannually, a magazine that contains conference and media reports and other aspects of the academy's work, an annual supplement in the Berlin-based newspaper Der Tagesspiegel
, and since 2007 a special supplement, together with Süddeutsche Zeitung
, on the occasion of the annual Munich Security Conference.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
whose stated mission is to foster a greater understanding and dialogue between the people of the United States and the people of Germany.The American Academy was founded in September 1994 by a group of prominent Americans and Germans, among them its founding chairman Richard Holbrooke
Richard Holbrooke
Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was an American diplomat, magazine editor, author, professor, Peace Corps official, and investment banker....
, Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
, Richard von Weizsäcker
Richard von Weizsäcker
Richard Karl Freiherr von Weizsäcker , known as Richard von Weizsäcker, is a German politician . He served as Governing Mayor of West Berlin from 1981 to 1984, and as President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1984 to 1994...
, Fritz Stern
Fritz Stern
Fritz Richard Stern is a German-born American historian of German history, Jewish history, and historiography. He is a University Professor Emeritus and a former provost at New York's Columbia University...
and Otto Graf Lambsdorff
Otto Graf Lambsdorff
Otto Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von der Wenge Graf Lambsdorff, known as Otto Graf Lambsdorff, was a German politician of the Free Democratic Party.- Biography :...
, and opened in 1998 with Gary Smith as Executive Director. The organization is entirely funded by private donations, with support coming from private individuals as well as corporations and foundations on both sides of the Atlantic. Since its opening, the American Academy has become an institution the leading German weekly magazine Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
called “the world's most important center for American intellectual life outside the US.”
The American Academy in Berlin is located in the Hans Arnhold Center in a villa on the shores of the Wannsee
Wannsee
Wannsee is a locality in the southwestern Berlin borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Germany. It is the westernmost locality of Berlin. In the quarter there are two lakes, the larger Großer Wannsee and the Kleiner Wannsee , are located on the river Havel and are separated only by the Wannsee bridge...
, a lake within the identically-named district in the southwestern part of Berlin. It was the home of banker and cultural leader Hans Arnhold and his family before they were forced to emigrate to the United States in the 1930s. It was then appropriated and occupied by Walther Funk
Walther Funk
Walther Funk was a prominent Nazi official. He served as Reich Minister for Economic Affairs in Nazi Germany from 1937 to 1945, tried as a major war criminal by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg.-Early life:...
, the Minister of Economics of the Third Reich and later president of the Reichsbank
Reichsbank
The Reichsbank was the central bank of Germany from 1876 until 1945. It was founded on 1 January 1876 . The Reichsbank was a privately owned central bank of Prussia, under close control by the Reich government. Its first president was Hermann von Dechend...
. After the Arnold family regained ownership, the villa was sold to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1958. Being located in the American Zone of occupation after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it was used as a recreation center by the U.S. Army and as a meeting center for political officials and Americans until after the fall of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
.
The American Academy in Berlin also maintains an office in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The American Academy in Berlin awards the Berlin Prize
Berlin Prize
The Berlin Prize is a residential fellowship at the Hans Arnhold Center, awarded by the American Academy in Berlin.- Fellows of the American Academy in Berlin :-References:*http://www.americanacademy.de/home/about-us/hans-arnhold-center/...
Fellowship to Americans in the fields of arts, literature, humanities, politics, economics, law, and composition. Usually twelve fellows are in residence at the Hans Arnhold Center for one academic semester. The Berlin Prize includes a monthly stipend, partial board, and residence at the Academy’s Hans Arnhold Center. In addition, the organization provides short-term stipends for visiting leading Americans such as Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman
Paul Robin Krugman is an American economist, professor of Economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, Centenary Professor at the London School of Economics, and an op-ed columnist for The New York Times...
, Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller
Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as All My Sons , Death of a Salesman , The Crucible , and A View from the Bridge .Miller was often in the public eye,...
, James Wolfensohn
James Wolfensohn
Sir James David Wolfensohn AO KBE FKC was the ninth president of the World Bank Group.-Early life:James Wolfensohn was born in Sydney, Australia, on 1 December 1933...
, Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, Samuel Nunn, and Justice Steven Breyer.
Since 2007 the Henry A. Kissinger Prize
Henry A. Kissinger Prize
The Henry A. Kissinger Prize is awarded by the American Academy in Berlin for exceptional contributions to trans-Atlantic relations. It was established in 2007.-Recipients of the Henry A. Kissinger Prize:* 2007 Helmut Schmidt* 2008 George H. W. Bush...
has been awarded annually to a European or American who has made a lasting contribution to bettering the transatlantic relationship.Previous recipients of the prize are former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt is a German Social Democratic politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Prior to becoming chancellor, he had served as Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance. He had also served briefly as Minister of Economics and as acting...
(2007); 41st President of the United States of America George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
(2008); former President of the Federal Republic of Germany Richard von Weizsäcker
Richard von Weizsäcker
Richard Karl Freiherr von Weizsäcker , known as Richard von Weizsäcker, is a German politician . He served as Governing Mayor of West Berlin from 1981 to 1984, and as President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1984 to 1994...
(2009); New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
(2010); and former German chancellor Helmut Kohl
Helmut Kohl
Helmut Josef Michael Kohl is a German conservative politician and statesman. He was Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 and the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union from 1973 to 1998...
(2011).
Since June 1999, the organization has been publishing the Berlin Journal
Berlin Journal
The Berlin Journal is a weekly newspaper published in Berlin, Wisconsin with a circulation of approximately 4,000 It is owned by the Berlin Journal Company Inc, which publishes five weekly newspapers in the Green Lake County, Wisconsin area...
biannually, a magazine that contains conference and media reports and other aspects of the academy's work, an annual supplement in the Berlin-based newspaper Der Tagesspiegel
Der Tagesspiegel
Der Tagesspiegel is a classical liberal German daily newspaper...
, and since 2007 a special supplement, together with Süddeutsche Zeitung
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
, on the occasion of the annual Munich Security Conference.
External links
- "American Academy in Berlin", Charity Navigator