Austrian Cultural Forum Washington

🎹Classical Four-Hand Piano Music | Piano Duo Gugg🙌

With the Gugg Piano Duo, we brought the busy, but vibrant May calendar at the Cultural Forum to a truly spectacular close! Tereza Gugg-Kalabova and Johannes Gugg captivated the audience with four mesmerizing four-hand piano pieces, showcasing extraordinary precision, harmony, and artistry. 🎶🌟

The audience was left in awe of their remarkable talent—and for good reason: Among others, they have been selected as part of BBC Radio 3’s prestigious New Generation Artists cohort for 2026–2028. 🎼👏 A well-deserved recognition for an exceptional duo!

THEATER AT THE EMBASSY | LOST MY WAY 🎭

This week, the Embassy of Austria, Washington D.C. turned into a theater stage for one night 🇦🇹🎭✨ Saskia Norman and Elisabeth Halikiopoulos transformed the space with their captivating performance “LOST MY WAY – When Life Doesn´t Go According to Plan”, written by and starring Saskia and directed by Elisabeth. Saskia delivered a remarkable performance, blending storytelling with stand-up and a one-woman theatrical ride about getting lost in life—and finding yourself. Thank you to Saskia and Elisabeth and to everyone who joined us!🌟

Trio Lumina | Musikakademie in Liechtenstein 🎶🇱🇮

We had the pleasure of hosting a beautiful concert in cooperation with the Embassy of Liechtenstein, Washington D.C. and the Ryuji Ueno Foundation🤝, featuring three outstanding musicians from the Music Academy in Liechtenstein.

Vivien Walser (piano 🎹), Yuna Dierstein (cello 🎻), and Pilar Policano (violin 🎻) presented an exceptional program featuring works by Astor Piazzolla, Clara Schumann, and Sergei Rachmaninov. ✨

The trio received well-deserved standing ovations from the audience 👏

Many thanks to the Ryuji Ueno Foundation for bringing such remarkable talent to Washington, DC 🇺🇸 as part of the “Semester Leadership Program” and to our friends from Liechtenstein for the wonderful cooperation. 🌟

🎬Austrian Art Meets the American Avant-Garde ✨

On tuesday, we hosted an exciting and thought-provoking talk on how Austrian art and film helped shape the American avant-garde 🎬✨

Bringing a fresh international perspective, British curator Cassius Matthias and Italian art & culture expert Piero Tomassoni explored the connections between Austrian art, experimental film, and the evolution of American visual culture in an elegant and engaging way.

The talk as well as the film clips were received with great interest, and the Q&A session afterwards was filled with insightful and engaging questions 🙌💬

YES & NO
Artvisor

THANK YOU / VIELEN DANK for celebrating Austria with us at this year’s EU Open House 2026 🇦🇹🇪🇺

Thousands of visitors stopped by the Austrian Embassy this past Saturday to experience a taste of Austria — from Apfelstrudel, Sachertorte, and Schnitzelsemmel to culture, music, and dance! ✨

Our younger guests also got creative with Austrian-inspired arts and crafts, designing their very own ski figures ⛷️

A heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors and partners who helped us showcase the diversity and richness of Austria here in Washington.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, we were especially proud to highlight the long-standing friendship between Austria and the U.S., the importance of our transatlantic ties, and the many Austrians who shaped life in the US – from the “mall man” & architect Victor Gruen to Hollywood actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.

Danke & thank you to everyone who came by — we hope to see you again next year! 🤝



European Union in the United States

We’re thrilled to announce that Gugg Piano Duo is coming to the Embassy of Austria, Washington D.C. with an exceptional classical program 🎹✨

Recently named BBC New Generation Artists for 2026–2028, they’re truly a duo to watch 🌟

Their program at the Embassy will features Schubert’s “Grand Duo Sonata in C Major”, Dvořák’s vibrant “Slavonic Dances”, Smetana’s iconic “The Moldau”, and concludes with selections from John Corigliano’s lively “Gazebo Dances” 🎶

📅 May 21
🚪 Doors: 6:15 PM | 🎼 Start: 7 PM
📍 Embassy of Austria
🎟 RSVP required | More info here: https://www.acfdc.org/events/gugg-piano-duo-2026

© Photo by Helmut Laufenboeck

Theater | LOST MY WAY 🎭🎬

The ACF DC is proud to present director Elisabeth Halikiopoulos and playwright & actress Saskia Norman, who will transform our venue at the Austrian Embassy for one night into a theater with their play “Lost My Way: When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan.”

“Lost My Way” is a bold, funny, and deeply personal theatrical journey. What begins as a simple therapy session quickly spirals into a trip through Saskia’s past, where she brings a cast of characters to life while revisiting the moments that shaped her - a sudden family tragedy, the struggle and recovery from an eating disorder, the refuge she found in acting, and the glittering dream of Hollywood—followed by the culture shock of chasing it.✨

Blending raw honesty with sharp humor, "Lost My Way" is a one-woman show that combines storytelling with deeply personal reflection, turning life’s heaviest chapters into a narrative that is as heartfelt as it is hilarious. 👏🌟

🎟️When? May 19, 2026 | 7 PM | followed by an 🇦🇹 Wine Reception
📍Where? Embassy of Austria
👉 RSVP required | More Info via this Link: https://www.acfdc.org/events/lostmyway-2026

✨ Austria at the Woodrow Wilson House | “Fashioning Power, Fashioning Peace” 🏛️✨

This week, The President Woodrow Wilson House opened its magnificent exhibition “Fashioning Power, Fashioning Peace”, inviting everyone to explore how fashion can serve as a powerful non-verbal language—bridging cultures, expressing identity, and fostering peace 🌍👗

This year, Austria is showcasing 3D-printed fashion by Austrian designer Julia Koerner - JK. Her presentation includes the “HY Clutch,” which was printed in her solar-powered 3D printing lab in California, where she creates products from renewable, biodegradable materials.

Come check it out at the Woodrow Wilson House!🧵

📅 Open to the public from April 30 to May 9
More info on the President Woodrow Wilson House website