About the German Culture Center
The German Culture Center is located on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is a unit of UMSL Global. The GCC is also a "cultural institute" of GOETHE INSTITUT whose mission is to present contemporary German culture and to foster the German language and culture within the American educational system. Since its founding in 1999, the GCC has become a key institution for area German teachers, for the German American community, and for those who wish to know more about German life, language, and culture.
Programs
The Center continues to work closely with the Goethe Institut in Chicago. Thousands have attended GCC workshops and programs, which often feature German artists and scholars.
The GCC is an active member of the German American Committee of Saint Louis. This umbrella organization of over twenty cultural societies helps coordinate area events and plans the annual German-American Day celebration held in October.
The Center is open to the general public by appointment. Call (314) 516-6620 or email gcc@umsl.edu to set a time and receive a parking permit. Each year many visitors come to the GCC to check out videos from the ever-expanding collection. These videos may be borrowed, free of charge, for two weeks.
German teachers make extensive use of the Center, which has become a sort of ombudsman for German educational affairs, helping promote school events, publicizing course offerings of the University and other institutions, and announcing job openings or special requests from local school districts.
Each year, the GCC offers well-attended workshops for German teachers and works closely with the Missouri Association of Teachers of German in providing programs to improve and promote the teaching of German in area schools.
The Center also presents the Goessl Book Award to outstanding students of German.
