The Federal Republic of Germany has acquired the former residence of exiled author and Nobel Laureate Thomas Mann in Los Angeles. The artist residence Villa Aurora will be entrusted with the administration of the house. Villa Aurora Chair Markus Klimmer, and Executive Director Annette Rupp, together with Doris Barnett, Member of the German Bundestag, were officially presented the keys.

"This is a major vote of confidence for the work we do in Los Angeles" said Klimmer. "Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Monika Grütters, have asked Villa Aurora to also run the Thomas Mann House. We are overjoyed".

"Villa Aurora will establish a residency program, and ‒ together with their American partners and friends ‒ foster transatlantic exchange", explains Executive Director Annette Rupp, who will oversee programming.  "It is our goal in these tumultuous times to bring people from both sides of the Atlantic together for further discourse. Villa Aurora und the Thomas Mann House will rise to this challenge", Rupp adds.  

Villa Aurora would like to thank German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Monika Grütters, as well as all other supporters and is looking forward to working with the Goethe-Institut.

Villa Aurora is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.