Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. The Goethe-Institut Mongolia celebrated its 10^th anniversary with  a reception at the German  Embassy Ulaanbaatar on May 15, 2019. As part of the celebrations the Mongolian State Conservatory and the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich exchanged a cooperation agreement.

In his anniversary address, delivered to 120 guests from the cultural, educational and political sectors, the German Ambassador Stefan Duppel acknowledged the work of the Goethe-Institut Mongolia: “For 100 years, culture and education have been important pillars of the relations between Germany and Mongolia. And for 10 years, the Goethe-Institut Mongolia has played a crucial role in this.”

Dr. Marla Stukenberg, regional director of the Goethe-Institut in East Asia, emphasized in her address the significance of the strong partnerships of the Goethe-Institut Mongolia: “The Goethe-Institut Mongolia has evolved very successfully in the past 10 years: It has promoted the cultural exchange between Mongolia and Germany with its language, culture and educational programs; it has opened new windows for exchange and dialogue between Germany and Mongolia; it has found many friends and partners here, with whom it has developed new ideas and has realized collaborations that are representative of our future work in Mongolia.”

The celebrations began with a ceremonial handover of a cooperation agreement between the Mongolian State Conservatory and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich by Professor Purevkhuu, director of the Conservatory, and Professor Claus Reichstaller, head of the jazz department at Munich University. The cooperation agreement builds on an already existing exchange between the two institutions.

The Goethe Musiklabor Ulan Bator (GMUB), established in 2014 by the Goethe-Institut to support up-and-coming jazz musicians in Mongolia, played a crucial role from the very beginning. Michael Heinst, director of the Goethe-Institut Mongolia, commented on the exchange of the cooperation agreement: “Lead by Martin Zenker, the GMUB became the first formal training for jazz music in Mongolia – with a lasting effect: After only two years, a Bachelor degree was established at the State Conservatory in 2016. Meanwhile, five GMUB graduates are now studying jazz at Munich University.”

The exhibition “Mongolia +/-40°” by the Mongolian documentary photographer Rentsendorj Bazarsukh in the Germany Embassy’s exhibition room completed the anniversary reception.  

The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. It promotes knowledge of the German language abroad, foster international cultural cooperation and convey a comprehensive image of Germany – now for 10 years also in Mongolia. After a preparatory phase the Liaison Office in Ulaanbaatar was officially opened on October 5, 2009. Prior to that, the Deutsche Informationsbibliothek (German Information Library) was established in 2003, a collaboration between Goethe-Institut and the Central Library for Children.

source: Goethe-Institute Mongolia