Martin Roth (museum director) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Roth
Martin Roth in 2014
Born	(1955-01-16)16 January 1955 Stuttgart, West Germany
Died	6 August 2017(2017-08-06) (aged 62) Berlin, Germany
Alma mater	University of Tübingen
Occupation	Museum director

Martin Roth (born January 16, 1955 – died August 6, 2017) was a famous German museum director. He led important museums like the Dresden State Art Collections in Germany from 2001 to 2011. Later, he became the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, UK, from 2011 to 2016.

Early Life and Education

Martin Roth was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on January 16, 1955. He studied at the University of Tübingen and earned his Ph.D. in 1987. His studies focused on how museums and exhibitions in Germany were connected to politics and history between 1871 and 1945. This period included the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era.

Career Highlights

Martin Roth started his career as a researcher in Paris, France. He studied how French and German museums were different. In 1992, he visited the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles.

Early Museum Roles

From 1989 to 2001, Roth worked as a curator at the Deutsches Historisches Museum. He also directed the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden from 1991 to 2000. This was Germany's first science museum. He was the president of the German Museums Association from 1995 to 2003. He also helped plan the Expo 2000 in Hanover.

Leading Dresden State Art Collections

From 2001 to 2011, Roth was the director general of the Dresden State Art Collections. This important group of museums included 12 different museums and galleries.

Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum

In 2011, Martin Roth moved to London to become the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). Under his leadership, the V&A became very popular. It welcomed a record 3.8 million visitors.

Key Projects and Exhibitions

During his time, the V&A opened new galleries like "Europe 1600–1815" in 2015. The "Savage Beauty" exhibition was a huge success. It won an award for the best temporary exhibition of 2015. In 2016, the V&A was named "Museum of the Year" in the UK.

Roth also worked on big expansion projects. These included a new entrance for the museum on Exhibition Road. He also planned for V&A East in Stratford, London. Another project was the V&A Dundee museum in Scotland. He greatly improved the V&A's international connections. The V&A partnered with the Smithsonian Institution for a new gallery. They also launched the Design Society in China.

Awards and Recognition

Martin Roth received many honors for his work. In 2007, he was given the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2010, he received the Danish Order of Dannebrog. China honored him in 2013 for his work in cultural exchange. In 2015, he received the Pushkin Medal from Russia. He also received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Stepping Down

Martin Roth left the V&A on September 6, 2016. He had planned to leave later, but he decided to leave sooner. He said he was very upset by the vote for the UK to leave the European Union. He called it a "personal defeat." Tristram Hunt, a historian and former politician, took over as director.

Later Activities

After leaving the V&A, Roth continued to be active in cultural affairs. He advised the German Foreign Ministry on cultural matters. He was also involved with the Goethe Institute. He was a trustee for the foundation of arts and music for Dresden. He also served on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Culture Panel.

Death

Martin Roth passed away in Berlin on August 6, 2017, at the age of 62. He had been diagnosed with cancer after leaving the V&A.

Other Activities

• President of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute for Foreign Relations), Germany, from July 1, 2017, until his death.
• Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Agenda 2020 Culture Panel.
• Member of the advisory board of the Kunstsammlung Würth.
• Member of the board of the Stiftung Kunst und Musik für Dresden.
• Honorary Fellow of the Arts University Bournemouth.
• Distinguished visiting professor at the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, University of British Columbia.

See also

In Spanish: Martin Roth (director de museo) para niños