The German Cultural Centre Taipei, the oldest non-American institution in Taiwan, is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2009.

The German Cultural Centre began humbly as a German language school with only a few students. It rapidly developed into a very active institution organizing cultural events and for many years even provided consular services such as visa's eventually becoming Germany's representative office in Taiwan.

However, when the German Institute opened, taking over the consular services, the Cultural Centre returned to focus on its original mission, i.e. the promotion of German, as a foreign language, and cultural exchange. The Institute library provides information both on and off-line - not only about Germany but also the German-speaking countries Austria and Switzerland.

In early 2006 the German Cultural Centre Taipei officially became a member of the world-wide network of Goethe-Institutes. Previously only affiliated with the Institutes, principally the Goethe-Institutes in East Asia, it is now, like any other Goethe-Institute, fully subsidized and administratively maintained by the headquarters in Munich, and funded by the Foreign Ministry in Berlin.

In recent years, the German Cultural Centre has become established as an important player on Taiwan's cultural and artistic scene. The scope of its projects has increased considerably, as has the number of German language students. Last year alone it organized more than 40 events, in its own multi-function room as well as in other premises. The German Cultural Centre works with partners such as the Taipei International Book Exhibition, Museums, Film Festivals, Dance Companies among others.