Over 90 alums, partners, and friends from both sides of the Atlantic joined us for the fourth annual SummerFest at the Natural History Museum Vienna (NHM Vienna), where we raised money for future travel and relocation allowances and celebrated the launch of the new Fulbright Specialist in the Arts Award, our artsraising initiative, and the impact our programs and program participants have had on the lives of individuals and communities in Austria and the US.
2023 SummerFest in review
5 July 2023Fulbright Austria’s fourth annual SummerFest took place on 25 May 2023 in the Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum Vienna.
The event was opened by Hermann Agis, Fulbright Austria’s executive director; Martin Polaschek, the Austrian federal minister of education, science and research; and Teta Moehs, the 2023 chair of Fulbright Austria’s board. Following the opening remarks, 2022–23 US Fulbright student Emily Gallagher, 2021–22 Austrian FLTA and 2023 Alum Advisory Panel member Carla Harold, and 2022–23 Fulbright-Natural History Museum Vienna (NHM Vienna) Visiting Researcher Tricia Achleitner-Goulding shared their Fulbright experiences with attendees. Fulbright Austria also had the honor of welcoming representatives of the NHM Vienna, a longstanding and generous partner who provided us with such a roaring venue for the 2023 SummerFest.
(l. to r.) Tricia Achleitner-Goulding, Emily Gallagher, Carla Harold, Hermann Agis, Martin Polaschek, Teta Moehs.
© Alina Diesner
© Adrian AlmasanFollowing the opening, members of the community enjoyed a lovely reception and well-received raffle. 15 raffle items donated by our diverse community members enhanced our core fundraising activities and highlighted our artsraising initiative. Special thanks go out to our very generous and engaged raffle donors for the community-building gifts and vouchers they provided:
- 1x dinner with H. Agis and his family
- 1x Viennese waltz lessons from R. Gabler-Schachermayr
- 1x English- and German-language copies of Morgiana and the 40 Thieves from E. Gallagher
- 1x in-person gallery talk and guided tour of an exhibition at the Jewish Museum Vienna from C. Gura
- 1x tickets to the Burgtheater from L. Hofmann
- 1x annual ticket to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna from M.-R. Kecht
- 1x cosmetic set (Douglas GmbH) from J. L. Raptis
- 1x collection of architecture/building/building relationships-themed gifts and an informal lunch at the US Embassy Chancery from E. Robertson
- 1x gift certificate for Viennese Mühlbauer hat from M. Sims
- 1x a ticket to the Großer Saal in the Wiener Konzerthaus from A. Steinbichler
- 3x set of three exquisite artworks by N. Tadavarthy
- 1x gift certificate to the Arnold Schönberg Center from Fulbright Austria staff
- 1x gift certificate to support culture in Lower Austria (Graffenegg) from Fulbright Austria staff
Fulbright Austria captured the excitement and energy of the evening with a video and photo album (see below) as well as a press release (in German) available on the Austria Press Agency’s website.
We would also like to thank everyone for their incredible support and for advocating on behalf of Fulbright Austria. Thanks to our community’s generosity, we raised more than €5,000 for future Fulbrighters!
If you too would like to donate to help us continue creating meaningful experiences, please use the button below. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s SummerFest!