The Goethe-Institut Nairobi is all set to open its doors to the public again after 18 months of renovations.
The extensive renovation, which included the addition of new spaces as well as the modernization of existing ones, has given the cultural institute a new, modern look.
The newly refurbished spaces which saw the library, auditorium and the work spaces get a fresh, modern look, were closed for over a year to make them more welcoming, interactive and stimulate creativity and interactions.
Commenting on the contemporary, multi-purpose spaces, Goethe-Institut Nairobi Director Lilli Kobler said.
“We had been planning the renovation of these spaces for quite a while but the time just wasn’t right due to the high foot traffic we used to receive. However, the COVID-19 lockdown presented an opportunity for us to make the spaces more functional and user-friendly.”
She further added that the goal of the renovations was to create a fun and relaxing environment that would attract diversity from visitors of all generations.
Facilities That Are Now Available After The Renovation
The renovated institute now features a digital corner, Virtual Reality (VR) stations and Gaming Fridays. There’s also a terrace which offers a variety of options for group work, meet-ups and hang-outs.
The terrace is adjacent to the now contemporary library which has been fitted with elegant glass walls and adjustable and movable partitions that gives it the ability to be transformed into a much larger area.
The new spaces now also have a safe and engaging kids’ section that is designed to encourage children to explore and nurture creative talents in an environment.
Additionally, the library, which also got a facelift, now boasts revised stock of books after the Goethe-Institut Nairobi reduced nearly three-quarters of the collection they had and gave them out to universities, museums and other partners.
The Goethe-Institut Nairobi Re-Opening Event
The event to mark the reopening of the Institute takes place between February 17 and 19th 2023. The institute has lined up a variety of exciting activities to showcase the talent that exists in Kenya’s creative sector..
Just A Band, will premiere their new performance film “Echo” which looks back at the band’s history and showcases their upcoming work, followed by a comeback appearance during a Q&A with fans.
There will also be a VR project dubbed ‘The Heritage Museum’ which aims to raise awareness about the heritage, history and the importance of Kenya’s displaced artefacts.
We will also get to see showcases from SOTA , an initiative of the Goethe-Institut, Jenga CCI in partnership with BlackRhino VR which is dedicated to strengthen the creative economy in the digital sector with the concept of integrating visual art forms in Augmented and Virtual Reality.
All departments of the Goethe-Institut Nairobi will also display their work and facilitate trainings and workshops for creatives and the broader public with all ages being able to try out the German language.
The event will be graced by representatives from the Government and the German Embassy and coincides with Goethe-Institut Kenya’s 60 years celebration of Kenyan-German cultural relations, where the German cultural institute has demonstrated its strong commitment to promoting local cultural and educational activities and experiences as well as European and international cultural co-operations.
To view the full list of those exhibiting or participating in the various activities as well as the program of the three day event, head over to their website.
Goethe-Institut Nairobi
The Goethe-Institut is the official cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany active with a network worldwide. It promotes the study of the German language abroad and encourages international cultural exchange.
To find out more about the institute, head over to their website here.
