“The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is now in the refugee-housing business,” reads an unsigned Associated Press article from Bratislava, Slovakia on Monday (11/30). “The world-famous ensemble on Monday presented a project that will turn a former inn southwest of Vienna into apartments for four refugee families. Organizers say a public part of the building in the village of St. Aegyd will be used for German-language courses. The orchestra plans to pay part of the 250,000-euro ($265,000) sale price for the building from its own pocket and hopes donations and crowdfunding will account for the rest. But the orchestra’s support won’t stop there. Spokesman Andreas Grossbauer says members will remain ‘personally connected’ with residents of the home through benefit concerts and other activities. Austria is a main destination for migrants looking for a better life in the European Union.”
Posted December 1, 2015
