At a conference

Bernd Ebert: “Cultural partnerships with East Asia need to be strengthened!“

At a conference held on 22–23 March 2026 in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, over 1,000 representatives from international arts and cultural institutions attended. The West Kowloon Cultural District is now a major cultural hub for art, music and theatre, with a focus on contemporary trends. The issue discussed there was how art and culture can strengthen communities, promote social development and advance cultural education.

Alongside the local museums M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, participants included the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the Shanghai Museum. Other cultural institutions, such as the Théâtre National de France (Paris) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York), were also among the participants. The Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (Dresden State Art Collections, SKD) were the only institution representing Germany.

On the sidelines of the conference, Dr Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, and Dr Bernd Ebert, Director General of the SKD, signed a memorandum of understanding on future cooperation between the two institutions. With the aim of establishing a long-term partnership, they agreed to collaborate in the fields of research, education, restoration and conservation. The memorandum of understanding also provides for the joint development and implementation of exhibition projects. With this step, three museums express their intention to co-curate an exhibition with presentations at the Palace Museum in Beijing (2027), the Hong Kong Palace Museum (2027-28) and the SKD (2029).

Historical ties, mutual inspiration and the competition between these two great cultural nations form the foundation of the exhibition, which can be traced through precious exhibits, particularly from the Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault), Dresdens treasury chamber. The objects from Dresden enter into a dialogue with works of art from the imperial collections of China. The focus is on the treasure chambers of the 18th century as centres of political power and diplomacy, in which the global exchange of knowledge in the early modern period was expressed. The fascination of the Saxon electors and kings for Asian art and craftsmanship is still reflected today in the extensive collections of the Dresden collections. Mutual respect, as well as a shared commitment to the highest standards of artistic and scientific precision, have connected these two countries for centuries.

Dr Bernd Ebert, Director General of the SKD: “The signing of the agreement between the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden and the Hong Kong Palace Museum lays the foundation for expanding our cooperation, including further partners in East Asia. With the aim of researching, presenting and communicating our own collections, we are strengthening the exchange between the teams in Hong Kong and Dresden. I look forward to a fruitful dialogue and a long-term partnership based on quality, mutual trust and shared responsibility.”

Dr Louis Ng, Director Hong Kong Palace Museum: “The Hong Kong Palace Museum is delighted to enter into a partnership agreement with Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. This collaboration will encompass diverse areas, including exhibitions, conservation, research, and talent development, reinforcing our mission to promote Chinese arts and culture and to foster dialogue among world civilisations. As a museum rooted in Hong Kong with a global vision, we look forward to expanding our international partnerships and sharing the beauty of arts and culture with audiences worldwide.”