About us

The Netzwerk Amerika Haus Berlin wants to provide for and foster the transatlantic debate, exchange and education that Berlin’s citizens seek by bringing the many transatlantic organizations and institutions already located in Berlin together. Based on this transatlantic network and in cooperation with other institutions, we will be planning events, discussion panels, expert presentations, readings, exhibitions, concerts and other events.

We will build upon the traditions of the Amerika Haus Berlin while adjusting its programming to new developments. Since the building officially closed in September of 2006 we have been working to revive the Amerika Haus Berlin. Since the Initiative has emerged from Berlin’s civil society, we are aiming for the building to also be run by Berlin’s civil society in the future. By working closely with other cultural and educational institutions we hope to be successful with organizing a broad spectrum of interesting events and effective programs.

Projects

"Meterweise Amerika"
From 1995 to 2007 the membership corporation Netzwerk Amerika Haus Berlin e.V. sponsered books and other publications informing about the United States for schools in Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt. Donations were compiled of books, maps, video material, dictionaries etc. and added up to a total amount of 180.000 Euro collected by the Freundeskreis members. „With each meter, and with each book our understanding of the US continues to grow“, a student of a Brandenburg secondary school expressed the students’ gratitude upon receiving a donation in 1997.

"Stundenweise Amerika"
The organization will continue with this project, yet is currently reviewing the spectrum of material provided to ensure it continues to meet student needs. [more (in German)]

History

The Netzwerk Amerika Haus Berlin, a membership corporation, was founded in 1994 by individuals from the academic, political, private sector and cultural fields all wanting to support the work of the Amerika Haus Berlin.

The phased withdrawel of US troops from Berlin had a massive impact on the nature of the German-American relationship in Berlin. A number of members were concerned that the opportunities for the exchange of thoughts provided for at the time of U.S. military presence might begin to recede. Wanting to ensure the continued exchange between Germans and Americans, they founded the „Freundeskreis“.

In December of 2008 a group of active participants of the „Initiative Amerika Haus Berlin“ joined the Netzwerk Amerika Haus Berlin because they supported its aims and because the Freundeskreis provided the necessary structural and organizational framework for the Initiative’s work. The idea to reopen the Amerika Haus emerged during a meeting of several transatlantic organizations and institutions in April 2006 in Berlin. The most active supporters of the idea came together to form the „Committee Amerika Haus, „CAB“ with the aim of reviving the building as a transatlantic information and event center, run by Berlin’s civil society for the general public. The Committee was coordinated and legally represented by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, an organization that at the time was a member of CAB. During the course of its work the Committee received great support and has gained new partners and supporters. The Committee joined the Federal Agency for Civic Education and organized the event series „How Will America Vote? Insights and Perspectives“ (September 29th – November 24th 2008). The vast amount of interest in this joint event series further encouraged the Initiative to continue persuing its aims. The Committee then took the necessary organizational steps that enabled it to continue with its work independently