The Austrian Consulate General Los Angeles is presenting a new online exhibition dedicated to the fascinating life story and oeuvre of the U.S.-Austrian architect Alfred Preis (1911-1993). Born, raised and educated in Vienna, Preis had to flee from Nazi occupied Austria in 1939 and emigrated to Honolulu, Hawaii. Briefly imprisoned as “enemy alien” after the United States entered World War II, he emerged as one of Hawaii’s leading architects in the 1950s and 60s. His celebrated career spanned over twenty-three years and comprised almost 180 built projects including the famous USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

On January 21, 2021, Federal Minister for the EU and the Constitution Karoline Edtstadler and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, presented the National Strategy of the Austrian Federal Government to combat and prevent all forms of anti-Semitism. The presentation was also attended by the President of the Jewish Religious Society of Austria, Oskar Deutsch, and Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission's Coordinator on Combatting Anti-Semitism.

As the 46th U.S. President, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and his Vice President, Kamala D. Harris, took the oath of office on January 20, 2021, political leaders and top officials from Austria reached out to embrace the incoming U.S. Administration, offering heartfelt congratulations and expressing their hopes for strong transatlantic cooperation, especially in addressing global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

On January 18, 2021, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz received U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Austria Trevor D. Traina for a farewell visit at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna. Chancellor Kurz thanked Ambassador Traina for his valuable contribution to further strengthening the relations between Austria and the United States and presented the outgoing U.S. Ambassador with the “Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Sash” (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen am Bande), Austria’s highest decoration for foreign ambassadors.

On December 11, 2020, Consul General Helmut Boeck handed official citizenship decrees to two new Austrian citizens. A couple of days later, he moderated a discussion between Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, David Harris.

On December 16, 2020, the Austrian Embassy and the Austrian Consulate General New York, in partnership with the Washington and New York offices of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and AJC ACCESS, (AJC's young professionals program), hosted the 10th annual Hanukkah celebration. This year however, instead of an in-person event at the Embassy, we gathered virtually to light the candles of the menorahs.

Introducing American students to the cherished Advent tradition of Saint Nicholas’ Day, which is observed on December 6th by many Austrians, has become a staple of our participation in the Embassy Adoption Program. During this year’s first virtual field trip on December 9, 2020, Ms. Connolly’s class of fifth graders at Hyde-Addison Elementary School was not only introduced to our country and language, but also to the legendary Bishop of Myra (and model for Santa Claus), who rewards only the good kids.

After 31 years of service as the Austrian Honorary Consul-General in Atlanta (responsible for Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee), Ferdinand Seefried retired from the office. He is succeeded as Consul by his son, Paul Seefried, who has already been formally appointed by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.

On the evening of November 2, 2020, the Austrian capital Vienna was hit by a deadly terrorist attack carried out by a sympathizer with the so called “Islamic State”, leaving four civilians dead and 13 severely injured. It was the first major terrorist attack in Vienna since the 1980’s.

Initiated by the office of the Defense Attaché, Ambassador Martin Weiss had the opportunity to pay a visit to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 28, 2020. On the basis of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Federal Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Austria, cadets of the Austrian Maria Theresan Military Academy will be able to participate in a “Cadet/Midshipmen Semester Exchange Program”. Austria is the 12th country to engage in this specific reciprocal student exchange program with the U.S. Naval Academy.

On October 15th, 2020, the Austrian Honorary Consul in Philadelphia, Gregory Montanaro, was awarded the Decoration of Honour in Silver for services to the Republic of Austria by Austrian Consul General in New York Dr. Helmut Böck during a ceremony at the famed Union League in Philadelphia.

On October 22, 2020, Ambassador Martin Weiss and Economic Counselor Georg Lack visited the new state-of-the-art particleboard EGGER manufacturing plant in Lexington, North Carolina. The impressive facility is the company’s 20th worldwide and its first manufacturing plant in the U.S. It started production in September 2020 and will, at full build-out, involve an investment of approximately 700 million USD creating an estimated 770 jobs. #FDI

On October 7, 2020, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Federal Minister for the European Union and Constitution Karoline Edtstadler had a virtual exchange with high-level representatives of five Jewish organizations from the United States. In the virtual conversation, Chancellor Kurz reiterated that Austria’s fight against all forms of anti-Semitism and the improvement of Austrian relations with Israel have always been strong priorities for his Government.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the General Debate of the U.N. General Assembly, traditionally the most high-profile United Nations event of the year, was unlike any other in the organization’s history. As world leaders did not travel to New York City for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, meetings and summits moved online and pre-recorded video messages were broadcast “as live”. Austria was represented by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, and Susanne Raab, Federal Minister for Women and Integration.

U.S. scholar Timothy Snyder was awarded the “Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art” by Federal President Alexander Van der der Bellen in Vienna on September 23, 2020. The Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University was honored inter alia for his outstanding academic contribution in the field of the history of the Holocaust and totalitarism in Central and Eastern Europe.

2020 has been a challenging year. Today, research, technology and innovation are more important than ever to master global challenges. Since travels and larger gatherings are restricted, ARIT 2020 met virtually on September 17 to focus on the outstanding achievements of Austrian researchers and innovators in North America.

On September 17, 2020, Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen “virtually” bestowed the former Governor of California with one of Austria's highest decorations, the “Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria”.

Austrian tennis pro Dominic Thiem made history when he became the first Austrian to win the U.S. Open on September 13, 2020 in New York City.

On September 11, the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Vice Admiral Sean Buck signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Austrian Theresan Military Academy (TherMilAk) and the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), which covers the exchange of TherMilAk cadets and USNA midshipmen.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment the Austrian state of Burgenland, its state museum will curate an exhibition entitled “Unsere Amerikaner” (Our Americans). The museum is looking for artifacts and their corresponding life stories of those Burgenlanders who emigrated to the United States (and in particular to the Midwest and Chicago) - the largest migratory movement in the state’s history.