Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz

The Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz e.V. is a non-profit, publicly funded institution based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It was founded in 1996 by the state government of Rhineland-Palatinate and is carried by a cross-party association. Its mission is to cultivate transatlantic relations and to provide comprehensive information about the politics and society of the United States. The academy is largely financed through a state government subsidy, supplemented by membership fees, participation fees, and third-party funds. Since 2014 it has been a recognized education provider of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung). The academy's program is divided into three areas: encounter, education, and consulting. It organizes seminars, conferences, and lectures on US politics and society, primarily in Rhineland-Palatinate but also elsewhere in Germany, generally open to all interested persons. For schools, it offers workshops for upper-level classes and teaching staff that take place directly at the schools and cover a wide range of topics, from German-American relations to American music history. It also publishes the book series "Atlantische Texte," which addresses cultural and political topics related to America, often oriented toward current events. As of June 2016, forty-one volumes had appeared in the series. The academy's staff also serve as consultants on American studies topics. The academy maintains a strong regional focus due to the presence of the Kaiserslautern Military Community, the largest US military base outside the United States, with around 50,000 US citizens living in the region. It promotes exchange between these Americans and Rhineland-Palatinate residents. The academy also maintains a partnership with the US state of South Carolina, Rhineland-Palatinate's partner state, and runs programs such as the Young Leaders Forum, school offerings, exhibitions, and a scholarship and exchange program. Its website features a blog, podcast, online learning tools, and event recordings. The institution is politically independent and overpartisan, and it has taken public stances, including a statement for democracy against right-wing extremism and a statement condemning Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz was founded in 1996 by the state government of Rhineland-Palatinate. The impetus was the presence of the Kaiserslautern Military Community, the largest American military base outside the United States, with around 50,000 US citizens—both military personnel and civilians—living in the region. The academy was created to promote exchange between these Americans and Rhineland-Palatinate residents and to contribute to educational work in the field of American politics and society. On 22 February 1996, the birthday of the first American president, George Washington, it was officially opened by the then Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate, Kurt Beck. With Werner Kremp as director, it initially occupied rooms in the Theodor-Zink-Museum on Steinstraße. On 16 October 1996, the supporting association "Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz e.V." was formed. In 2010, Wolfgang Tönnesmann became director, and in early 2015 he was succeeded by David Sirakov. The academy is financed partly through membership fees, participation fees, and third-party funds, but primarily through a subsidy from the state government. Since 2014, it has been a recognized education provider of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung).

• 2016

  As of June 2016, forty-one volumes of the "Atlantische Texte" series had been published.

• 2015

  David Sirakov becomes director.

• 2014

  Recognized as an education provider by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung).

• 2010

  Wolfgang Tönnesmann becomes director.

• 1996

  Founded by the state government of Rhineland-Palatinate; officially opened on 22 February by Minister-President Kurt Beck.

• 1996

  Supporting association "Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz e.V." formed on 16 October.

Non-profit, overpartisan educational institution for transatlantic relations and US studies, publicly funded and recognized as a civic education provider.

• Atlantische Texte

  Book series on cultural and political topics related to America, often oriented toward current events; 41 volumes as of June 2016.

• Young Leaders Forum

  Program for young leaders in the context of the Rhineland-Palatinate–South Carolina partnership.

• School workshops

  Workshops for upper-level classes and teachers, held at schools, covering topics from German-American relations to American music history.

• Podcast: Amerikas Verfassung

  Podcast series on the American constitution.

• Exhibition: 100 Jahre US-Präsenz

  Exhibition on 100 years of US presence in the region.

1. 1Startseite: Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.atlantische-akademie.de
2. 2Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz – Wikidatawikidata.org