DRESDEN.- The Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD) has announced the appointment of Professor Dr. Lars-Christian Koch as the new Director of the State Ethnographic Collections of Saxony (SES) — a trio of institutions encompassing the museums in Dresden, Leipzig, and Herrnhut. Koch, a respected ethnomusicologist and museum leader, will assume his new role on October 1, 2025, following his tenure as Director of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art at Berlin’s Humboldt Forum.

The appointment, confirmed today by the Saxon Cabinet in consultation with SKD’s Director General Prof. Dr. Bernd Ebert, marks a new chapter for the ethnographic museums, which play a crucial role in re-examining Germany’s colonial collections and fostering cultural dialogue with communities worldwide.

Koch succeeds Léontine Meijer-van Mensch, who left in 2024 to become the founding director of Rotterdam’s new City Museum.

A Leader for a Changing Field

Saxon State Minister for Culture and Tourism Barbara Klepsch welcomed the decision, describing Koch as “a nationally and internationally recognized expert” with deep connections in the global museum community.

“He is known for his expertise in intercultural dialogue and for his commitment to restitution and ethical museum practice,” Klepsch said. “With him at the helm, our ethnographic museums are well positioned for the future.”

Director General Bernd Ebert echoed those sentiments, calling Koch’s appointment “a great gain” for the SKD.

“In a time of intense debate about the role and future of ethnographic museums, his steady leadership will be invaluable,” Ebert said. “His decades-long experience and broad professional network will open doors for new collaborations and innovative projects.”

Vision for Collaboration and Renewal

Koch expressed his excitement about the new position and his vision for the collections.

“The SES collections are of exceptional quality and international importance,” he noted. “I look forward to strengthening their global presence, especially through research and international partnerships, and to developing meaningful exhibition and educational programs together with my colleagues in Leipzig, Dresden, and Herrnhut.”

Koch’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for ethnographic museums, which are re-evaluating their colonial legacies, deepening cooperation with source communities, and redefining their public roles as spaces for dialogue and reflection.

A Distinguished Career

Born in Peine in 1959, Koch has devoted more than three decades to the study of global musical cultures. Since 2018, he has directed both the Ethnological Museum Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art, overseeing their integration into the Humboldt Forum — one of Europe’s most ambitious cultural projects.

An ethnologist by training, Koch also holds a PhD in musicology and a habilitation in ethnomusicology. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Cologne and Honorary Professor at both the Berlin University of the Arts and Humboldt University. His academic path has included visiting professorships in Vienna and Chicago, and long-term fieldwork in India and South Korea.

Among his many achievements, Koch developed the “Collaborative Museum” model at the Humboldt Forum — a pioneering framework emphasizing active partnerships with source countries and communities. He has published extensively and served on several advisory boards and editorial committees, including as co-editor of the Journal of Ethnology.

A New Chapter for Saxony’s Ethnographic Museums

With Koch’s appointment, the State Ethnographic Collections enter a new era aimed at balancing research, restitution, and public engagement. As global conversations on cultural heritage evolve, his blend of scholarly insight and diplomatic skill promises to guide the SKD’s ethnographic institutions toward a future defined by transparency, respect, and exchange.

“These museums,” Koch said, “are not just about preserving the past — they are about shaping how we understand one another in the present.”