Since its inception, the Center for Austrian Studies has organized events designed to attract an audience from the wider community outside the university. One of the first events sponsored in 1977-78 included chamber musicians playing Austrian classical music. Our 1996 and 1997 symposia featured film festivals that drew a wide audience of students, scholars, and nonacademics from around the Twin Cities. Our 1997 conference also featured dance and theatre performances for a university and a community audience, and our 2002 conference included workshops for area business executives and entrepreneurs who wanted to learn more about doing business in Austria and the EU. In 2004-05, we held a dinner for Friends of the Center for Austrian Studies, and a buffet dinner prior to a performance by the Vienna Choir Boys for all interested community members.
In the 2005-06 academic year, the Center stepped up efforts to organize outreach events aimed at enlightening and entertaining members of the community, making them aware of our programming, and assisting the Center’s fundraising efforts. We plan to hold such events on a regular basis in the coming years.
2005-06
September 16: Kann Memorial Lecturer John-Paul Himka gave a talk, "Ukrainian Icons of the Last Judgement and the Emergence of a National Movement," at St. Constantine Parish School Auditorium in Northeast Minneapolis.
October 23: Dr. Robert Fisch and the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Orchestra presented "Dear Dr. Fisch," at the Ted Mann Concert Hall. A program of readings and music centered around children's responses to Dr. Fisch's Holocaust experiences and insights into the Holocaust.
January 28: Schubertiade Concert with special guest artist from Austria, Risa Schuchter, violin; Naomi Karstad, soprano; and Daniel Rieppel, pianist. Co-sponsored by the Germanic-American Institute.
March 26: Lieder Recital by Mike Schmidt, winner of the Voices of Vienna Scholarship, with Susan Heiserman at the piano. Held at the German-American Institute in St. Paul.
April 29: "Austrian Art and Eco-preneurship: An Evening with Horst Rechelbacher." Music, dinner, and a presentation by Horst held at Intelligent Nutrients in Minneapolis.