What we do

The Goethe-Institut, Germany’s cultural institute, operates worldwide, promoting knowledge of the German language abroad and fostering international cultural collaborations.

Our cultural and educational programmes offer an opportunity to engage with themes and questions relevant to contemporary German culture and society. Faced with the challenges of globalisation, we aim to strengthen intercultural dialogue and a global civil society.

There are currently 151 Goethe-Institut branches operating in 98 countries around the world. Combining our cross-cultural expertise with the experiences of our local partners, we support and collaborate with cultural institutions and artists, universities and schools, local authorities and businesses with an interest in Germany and its language and culture. With our networks and collaborations we also address and promote the European idea, a shared European cultural space and diversity.

In the UK, we have institutes in London and in Glasgow. The Goethe-Institut London has been operating in South Kensington since 1962, the Goethe-Institut Glasgow opened in 1973. Today our work focuses on the following: