Austria has at its disposal a world-wide network with a total of 28 Austrian Cultural Forums: Ankara, Belgrade, Berlin, Bern, Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Brussels, Istambul, Kiev, Krakow, Ljubljana, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, New York, Otawa, Paris, Prague, Rome, Stockholm, Teheran, Tel Aviv, Warsaw, Washington and Zagreb. This Austrian Cultural Forums (former Cultural Institutes and Cultural Departments) were essentially created – with the exception of the institute in Rome (established in 1935) – in four post-war phases to strengthen Austria’s independent identity and present its international cultural policy agendas: Associated with the Austrian State Treaty (Paris, London, New York, Zagreb), at the interface between Europe and the Arab World (Cairo, Istambul, Teheran), upon commencement of a foreign policy focus on neighbouring states ( Budapest, Warsaw ) and to build upon relations with neighbouring states in Central Europe ( Prague, Milan ). In 1955 an Austrian reading room was established in Zagreb and 1972 large-scale renovations took place (inclusive creation of a multi-purpose hall). 1974 the reading room was performed in a cultural institute. Beginning with the middle of 2001 the Austrian Cultural Institute Zagreb has been integrated in the Austrian Embassy, but using his own premises. The Austrian Cultural Forum is located in Zagreb in the Gundulićeva street No. 3, five minutes away from the main place in Zagreb, the Trg bana Jelačića. One of its aims is in revising the long-standing cliché of Austria as the country of classical music and the waltz by presenting the accomplishments of contemporary Austrian visual artists, authors and scientists, and in creating an image of our country, which largely corresponds to current reality. The Austrian Cultural Forum is an open meeting place between Austrians and Croats and acts as a forum for discussions and cooperation with cultural organisations, bearing in mind Austria’s cultural position in the heart of Europe and Austria’s traditional links and cultural role in this area. So the Austrian Cultural Forum in 2001 organized with 110 partners in 37 places in Croatia a total of 265 performances. The Austria Cultural Forum will in cooperation with Croatian partners continue in strengthening the traditional cultural network between Austria and Croatia.

Robert Szucsich, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum