Korean Cultural Centre in Germany supports Museum of Asian Art - Agreement signed to fund a curator position
Press release from 12/15/2021
The Korean Cultural Centre in Germany under the direction of Mr Bongki Lee and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation have signed an agreement to intensify research with and on the Korean collection of the Museum of Asian Art of the National Museums in Berlin. The research activities supported in this way will also contribute to the presentation of the Museum of Asian Art's Korean collection. The exhibition area on Korea is part of the presentation of the Museum of Asian Art on the third floor of the Humboldt Forum, which opens on 22 September 2021.
The agreement was concluded in the context of a project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of the Republic of Korea to support Korea exhibitions in foreign museums. In this context, the MCST has agreed to support the Museum of Asian Art over the next three years and to fund a curatorial position for the museum's Korea collection.
The curator position funded by the MCST is intended to enable comprehensive research work on the Museum of Asian Art's Korean collection as well as the creation and implementation of a medium- to long-term collection concept. In addition to the further development of the Korea presentation in the Humboldt Forum based on this concept, the funding will also be used to realise academic workshops and seminars related to the museum's Korean collection as well as further exhibitions.
Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, emphasises: "The cooperation that has now been agreed gives us the opportunity to focus even more intensively than before on the cultural and art history of Korea, to exploit the potential of the existing collection holdings and even to expand them. The resulting added academic value will also benefit visitors to the exhibitions at the Museum of Asian Art in the Humboldt Forum, who can look forward to an even more stimulating presentation and dialogue."
Lars-Christian Koch, Director of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst and the Ethnologisches Museum der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, adds: "We are delighted that this agreement will enable us to significantly intensify our collaboration with our Korean colleagues over the coming years. The Korea collections of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst and the Ethnologisches Museum will not only be able to be worked on in a more targeted way academically, but their presentation in the Humboldt Forum will also be enhanced."
The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Germany, Cho Hyun Ock, is also pleased about the cooperation: "The signing of the agreement provides an opportunity to expand cooperation with Korea-related organisations in the future. In addition, it can be assumed that the agreement will contribute to a revitalisation of cultural and artistic exchange between Korea and Germany in various areas."