The American-Scandinavian Foundation

The American-Scandinavian Foundation, (ASF) is an American non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting international understanding through educational and cultural exchange between the United States and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The Foundation's headquarters, Scandinavia House, is located at 58 Park Avenue, New York City.

About the Foundation

The ASF was founded in 1910 by the Danish-American industrialist Niels Poulsen. It is a publicly supported non-profit organization that carries out an extensive program of fellowships, grants, trainee placement, publishing, membership offerings, and cultural activities.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees of individuals from the United States and Scandinavia, representing diverse interests yet linked by personal or professional ties to the Scandinavian countries. The five Nordic Heads of State serve as the organization's patrons.

Exchange activities

More than 26,000 young Americans and Scandinavians have participated in ASF's exchange programs of study, research or practical training. Many of its alumni have gone on to leading positions in business, government and the arts. The Foundation cultivates enduring academic, professional, and personal ties between the U.S. and the Nordic countries.

Fellowships

Each year the ASF awards more than $800,000 in fellowships and grants to individual students, scholars, professionals, and artists - either Scandinavians studying or conducting research in the United States or Americans studying or conducting research in Scandinavia.

Training

The Foundation's training program enables young Americans and Scandinavians living abroad to receive practical working experience in fields such as engineering, shipping, law, finance, agriculture and technology.

Language classes

Language classes at Scandinavia House are offered and accredited through New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. For registration information, call New York University at [phone] or visit:
* [http://www.scps.nyu.edu/departments/department.jsp?deptId=11 NYU Foreign Languages Page]

Cultural programs

The ASF presents a wide range of cultural programs at Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, including art and design exhibitions, films, concerts lectures, and children's programs representing all facets of Nordic culture.

Public project grants

Through its public project grants, the ASF funds a wide variety of programs that bring American and Scandinavian culture, art, and thought to public audiences. Grants are awarded to arts and educational institutions adding a Nordic focus to their programming, as well as to smaller organizations with a more regional focus. In 2005-2006, 65 projects throughout the U.S. and Scandinavia received $250,000 in total funding. In 2006-2007, an additional $221,000 was awarded to 62 projects.

Publishing

The American-Scandinavian Foundation's quarterly journal, Scandinavian Review, is the oldest publication of its kind in the United States. It covers all aspects of life in contemporary Scandinavia with an emphasis on areas in which Scandinavian achievement is renowned: art and design; industrial development; and commercial, political, economic, and social innovation. Leading journalists and writers on both sides of the Atlantic participate in the challenging task of making Scandinavia better known and understood. The magazine offers readers information about the five Nordic countries that is rarely found in the American news media.

candinavia House - The Nordic Center in America

The American-Scandinavian Foundation's cultural center, Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, is located at 58 Park Avenue, between 37th and 38th streets in midtown Manhattan. It offers art, design, and historical exhibitions; films; concerts; lectures; and children's programs illuminating the contemporary vitality of the Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). Designed by architect James Stewart Polshek, Scandinavia House also offers a shop and cafe. It opened to the public in 2000.

Tourism in Scandinavia

* [http://www.visitdenmark.com Tourism in Denmark]
* [http://www.visitfinland.com Tourism in Finland]
* [http://www.goiceland.org Tourism in Iceland]
* [http://www.visitnorway.com Tourism in Norway]
* [http://www.visitsweden.com Tourism in Sweden]

Scandinavian consulates in New York City

* [http://www.gknewyork.um.dk/en Consulate of Denmark in New York City]
* [http://www.finland.org/en/ Consulate of Finland in New York City]
* [http://www.iceland.org/us/nyc Consulate of Iceland in New York City]
* [http://www.norway.org/newyork/welcome.htm Consulate of Norway in New York City]
* [http://www.swedenabroad.com/pages/start____7928.asp Consulate of Sweden in New York City]

ee also

* Harald V of Norway (patron)
* Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (patron)
* Margrethe II of Denmark (patron)
* Tarja Halonen (patron)
* Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (patron)

* Princess Benedikte of Denmark (honorary trustee)
* Martti Ahtisaari (honorary trustee)
* Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (honorary trustee)
* Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (honorary trustee)
* Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden (honorary trustee)

External links

* [http://www.amscan.org/index.html The American-Scandinavian Foundation homepage]
* [http://scandinaviahouse.org/ Scandinavia House - The Nordic Center in America]
* [http://www.polshek.com/inst_scan.htm Polshek Partnership building information and photos]
* [http://finnchurchny.org/ Finnish Church in New York]
* [http://www.swedishchurch.net/index2.asp?id=1 Swedish Church in New York]
* [http://www.seamenschurch.org/474.asp The Seaman's Church Institute in New York]
* [http://www.kjerka.com/Whats-going-on.html The Norwegian Seaman's Church in New York]