Dresden Art Collections with a drop in visitors and new plans

Difficult times for art and culture: the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) with museums such as the Green Vault and the Old Masters Picture Gallery also have to accept cutbacks in the face of austerity measures. Around 1.8 million visitors came to the collections in 2025, around 460,000 fewer than in the previous year, the SKD announced at the presentation of its annual results. In addition to declining tourist numbers, reduced opening hours and increased ticket prices were also cited as reasons. Around 40 percent of SKD's visitors come from abroad. In addition, the Museum of Decorative Arts was closed.

Admission prices at the SKD are rising

Revenue fell by 1.4 million euros to 12.6 million euros within a year. It is expected to grow again this year with a further increase in admission prices. Children and young people under the age of 17 were previously admitted free of charge. From April, schoolchildren will pay two euros for a visit - the regulation applies up to the age of 20. In future, a one-day ticket will cost 28 instead of 26 euros and a two-day ticket 32 instead of 29 euros. Museum visitors will now have to pay 95 euros for an annual ticket - previously it was 75 euros. For all other visitors, the ticket price for some museums will increase by two euros.

Art collections had to cut jobs

The SKD also had to accept a reduction in staff. Compared to 2023, 30 jobs were cut - almost ten percent. SKD Director General Bernd Ebert assumes that the consolidation will continue. They will not wait to see what allocations there are from the state, but will take action themselves. Lower grants from the state are already being anticipated in the planning. Exhibitions will be closely scrutinized, focus and set priorities - but under no circumstances will quality be lost. It would be better to reduce the number of projects.

Crisis also seen as an opportunity

"But ultimately, a crisis situation like this, a crisis to be overcome, a transformation process like this, is always an opportunity. A chance to become aware of your own goals once again and to focus and set priorities," said Ebert. This is exactly what was done in his first year in office, and this process is currently being continued.

A number of attractive exhibitions are planned for this year. The SKD already caused a stir in February with its show of works by Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907) and Edvard Munch (1863-1944). The exhibition is "going like hot cakes", Ebert said. The next highlight will be the opening of the permanent exhibition "Masks and Crowns. Festive Culture and the Representation of Power at the Dresden Court" in the restored halls in the north wing of the Residenzschloss.

Renaissance painter Correggio comes into focus

In September, the SKD is devoting itself to an Italian celebrity - the painter Antonio Allegri, known as Correggio (1489-1534). The exhibition "Correggio. Touchingly Human" begins on September 19 and is the first major monographic exhibition of works by the artist outside of Italy, it was reported. In addition to works from the museum's own collection - the Dresden Picture Gallery owns four of the five works by the Italian artist located in Germany - works on loan from renowned museums such as the Louvre in Paris will also be on display.

In the summer, the exhibition "Japan on Paper in Dresden" will show works from the Kupferstich-Kabinett's collection of more than 10,000 objects. Works by famous woodcut artists of the 18th and 19th centuries such as Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige will be on display. From October, the Coin Cabinet will be focusing on digital currency in the special exhibition "Crypto, what?".

Ebert also gave a preview of 2027, when the 450th birthday of the painter Peter Paul Rubens, who is represented with several paintings at the Old Masters in Dresden, will be celebrated. The exhibition is entitled: "Rubens. A world launch in Dresden!" In 2028, the SKD is planning a themed year under the motto "Art, Nature and Science", and in 2029 the focus will be on "Textiles, Fashion and Costume".