Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Institute

The Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Institute, commonly known as the DAZ, is a non-profit and nonpartisan cultural and educational institution based in Stuttgart, Germany. Founded in 1995 as the successor to the former Amerika Haus, it provides a public forum for information, discussion and exchange concerning the United States and Germany. Its work covers social, cultural, political, economic and historical subjects, with programs designed to make transatlantic relations accessible to the general public, schools, students, professionals and organized German-American groups. The institute operates as a platform rather than as a commercial product brand. Its activities include lectures, seminars, panel discussions, film screenings, exhibitions and musical events, generally conducted in German or English and presented by specialists from academia, journalism, media, politics, economics and the arts. The program addresses contemporary policy questions as well as American history, society and culture. The DAZ also serves as a meeting place for German-American organizations and community groups, including the Empire Study Group, Transatlantic ArtConneXion and the Metropolitan Club. Education is a major part of the institute's public role. It offers English-language courses taught by native speakers, with an emphasis on both practical language learning and familiarity with American culture. Through the America Explained program, the DAZ supports schools with interactive sessions in which U.S. contributors discuss American politics, history and culture with pupils. The institute also provides continuing-education opportunities for teachers. In cooperation with EducationUSA, it offers independent information about educational and exchange opportunities in the United States, including high school, university, au pair and internship options. The DAZ maintains a small library containing German- and English-language books, magazines, journals and electronic resources for readers of different ages. Users can also receive free access to the eLibrary USA database. Its newsletter communicates information about current events and other activities. One of the institute's most visible public initiatives is American Days, a cultural festival for the Stuttgart metropolitan region. Established in 2008 with the DAZ, the state of Baden-Württemberg, the City of Stuttgart and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the festival presents programs by German and American institutions over a period of at least eleven days. It is intended to highlight existing transatlantic engagement, encourage new cooperation and present diverse perspectives on the relationship between the two countries. The festival was held annually at first, except in 2013, and from 2014 was planned as a biennial event. The institute is supported by Baden-Württemberg, the City of Stuttgart and the U.S. Embassy. Its governing and advisory structure brings together public institutions, universities, universities of applied sciences, German-American organizations, corporate members and representatives of politics and business. The DAZ's identity is therefore rooted in civic diplomacy, education and cultural exchange rather than in retail or proprietary consumer products.

The Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Institute was established in Stuttgart in 1995 as the successor to the Amerika Haus. The successor institution retained the earlier organization's broad public-information and cultural-exchange orientation while developing a more explicitly regional platform for German-American relations. Its purpose is to provide reliable information and opportunities for dialogue on matters affecting Germany and the United States, including politics, economics, society, history, arts and culture. The DAZ was organized as a non-profit and nonpartisan institution. Its institutional network includes the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, the state capital Stuttgart, the Universities of Hohenheim and Stuttgart, universities of applied sciences, German-American organizations, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and corporate members. Representatives from politics and business participate in an advisory board. Public support has been associated with Baden-Württemberg, the City of Stuttgart and the U.S. Embassy, while the institute's programming has relied on cooperation with academic, civic, cultural and transatlantic organizations. From its Stuttgart base, the institute developed a varied cultural and educational program. Lectures, seminars and discussions in German and English bring specialists from science, journalism, media and economics into conversation with the public. Complementary cultural programming includes films, exhibitions and music, usually with a connection to the United States or to wider transatlantic relations. The DAZ also provides a physical and organizational meeting point for German-American groups such as the Empire Study Group, Transatlantic ArtConneXion and the Metropolitan Club. Education and public information form another central strand of the institute's history. Its English courses are intended to combine language acquisition with exposure to American culture and are taught by native speakers. Through America Explained, U.S. contributors engage school classes in interactive sessions about American political life, history and culture. The program also includes continuing education for teachers. In cooperation with EducationUSA, the institute supplies independent information about study, training and exchange opportunities in the United States, including high school, university, au pair and internship routes. The DAZ's library extends this information mission through German- and English-language literature, magazines, journals and electronic media for readers of different ages. Free access to the eLibrary USA database provides an additional research resource. A newsletter helps the institute maintain contact with its audience and publicize current events. In 2008 the DAZ helped establish American Days, a major cultural festival in the Stuttgart metropolitan region. The initiative was created with Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart and the Robert Bosch Stiftung. It brings together German and American institutions for a program lasting at least eleven days and covering multiple dimensions of transatlantic relations. The festival was initially held annually, except in 2013; from 2014 the organizers planned a biennial schedule. Its objectives include making existing transatlantic activities more visible and encouraging new projects and partnerships. Since 2010, Christiane Pyka has been identified as the institute's executive director, while Rudolf Böhmler is identified as chairman. The available reference material does not document a subsequent change in either role. The DAZ remains distinct from a commercial company: its principal outputs are public programs, educational services, information resources and opportunities for civic exchange.

• 2014

  American Days planned as a biennial event

  [1]Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Beginning in 2014, the festival was scheduled to take place every two years rather than annually.

• 2013

  Exception to annual American Days schedule

  [1]Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  American Days did not take place in 2013, according to the referenced description of the festival's schedule.

• 2010

  Christiane Pyka becomes executive director

  [1]Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Christiane Pyka has served as the institute's executive director since 2010, according to the referenced institutional description.

• 2008

  American Days established

  [1]Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The DAZ, Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart and the Robert Bosch Stiftung established American Days as a regional festival focused on German-American relations.

• 1995

  DAZ founded as successor to Amerika Haus

  [1]Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Institute was founded in Stuttgart to continue and develop the public cultural and informational work associated with the Amerika Haus.

A civic, educational and cultural platform for German-American dialogue, public information and transatlantic exchange in Stuttgart and Baden-Württemberg.

• Cultural festival · 2008

  American Days

  A multi-day American cultural festival in the Stuttgart metropolitan region. German and American institutions contribute events addressing politics, history, society, arts, culture and broader transatlantic relations. The festival was established in 2008 and was initially annual, apart from 2013, before being planned as a biennial event from 2014.

• School education

  America Explained

  An educational program for schools in which U.S. contributors conduct interactive sessions on American politics, history and culture. The program is intended to deepen pupils' knowledge of the United States and provide opportunities for direct discussion. The DAZ also connects this work with continuing education for teachers.

• Language education

  English-language courses

  Courses covering different aspects of English language learning, taught by native speakers. Alongside language skills, the courses aim to familiarize participants with American culture and everyday contexts.

• International education advising

  EducationUSA information service

  An information service operated in cooperation with EducationUSA that provides independent guidance about education and stays in the United States, including high school, university, au pair and internship opportunities.

• Library and information services

  DAZ library and eLibrary USA access

  A small library with German- and English-language books, magazines, journals and electronic media for readers of different ages. The institute also provides free access to the eLibrary USA database.

• 2008American Days

  Stuttgart metropolitan region · Baden-Württemberg

  The DAZ created American Days with Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart and the Robert Bosch Stiftung to showcase German-American engagement and encourage new transatlantic activities and partnerships.

  Outcome. The event became a recurring regional festival, initially annual except in 2013 and later planned on a biennial basis.

  Source

• 2014

  Move American Days to a biennial scheduleStrategy

  Background

  American Days had been presented as an annual festival after its creation in 2008, with no event in 2013.

  Action taken

  The organizers planned for the festival to take place every two years beginning in 2014.

  Aftermath

  The change was intended to provide a recurring platform for regional German-American programming, although the available source does not provide attendance or financial results.

  Source

1. 1Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Instituteen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Institute official websitedaz.org