Austrian Cultural Forum Director Visits the University of Minnesota

Dr. Susanne Keppler-Schlesinger met with members of the university community and local organizations during her December visit
ACFNY Director Susanne Keppler-Schlesinger at Minneapolis Institute of Art standing next to Egon Schiele painting, "Standing Girl"
Dr. Susanne Keppler-Schlesigner, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum New York, next to Egon Schiele's "Standing Girl" (c. 1910; conté crayon and tempera wash over black chalk on brown wrapping paper) while touring the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) during her visit to Minnesota in December 2024.

The Center for Austrian Studies was pleased to host Dr. Susanne Keppler-Schlesinger, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum (ACFNY) in New York City, in December of 2024. 

Dr. Keppler-Schlesinger met with the Center for Austrian Studies, UMN Libraries archivists and curators, the University Provost, as well as leaders at cultural organizations in the Twin Cities such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art. As part of her official visit, Dr. Keppler-Schlesinger also gave a talk on Vienna as a center for diplomacy in Professor Anna Clark's undergraduate course, HIST 1032W: "Europe and the World: Expansion, Encounter, and Exchange from 1500 to Present."

A career diplomat with the Austrian Außenministerium (Foreign Ministry), Dr. Keppler-Schllesinger was formerly Debuty Director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, and prior to that was the head of the Austrian Cultural Forum in Paris. These are just two of the many prominent posts Dr. Keppler-Schlesinger has held throughout her career. In addition to her diplomatic credentials, Dr. Keppler-Schlesinger earned her Ph.D. in Musicology and French Language and Literature from the University of Vienna. 

The ACFNY is Austria's leading cultural institution in the United States, and along with the country's diplomatic mission in Washington D.C., is part of the Austrian Foreign Ministry's broader initiatives to foster cultural exchange, academic innovation, and political cooperation between the United States and Austria. 

Since the founding of the Center for Austrian Studies at the University of Minnesota in 1977 with funds from the Austrian government and people of Austria, the Austrian Cultural Forum has maintained close ties with CAS and the University of Minnesota. 

For more information about the ACFNY, please visit their website to learn more about their events, exhibitions, and other opportunities. To learn more about the Center for Austrian Studies, please visit our UMN webpage and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates. 

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