Martin Roth (museum director)

Martin Roth was born on 16 January 1955 in Stuttgart, Germany.{{cite web|title=ROTH, Martin|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U256641|website=Who's Who 2015|publisher=A & C Black|accessdate=16 January 2015|date=October 2014}} He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Tübingen in 1987: his doctoral dissertation concerned "the political and historical context of museums and exhibitions in Germany between 1871 and 1945".{{cite web| title=Presseinformation ... Professor Dr. Martin Roth| url=http://archiv2015.kunstfestspiele.hannover.de/content/download/502997/11151748/file/01_Festrede.pdf|author=Barbara Krüger, press officer| publisher=KunstFestSpiele, Hannnover|date=21 March 2014|accessdate=16 September 2016}}

Roth became a researcher at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris (and at the German Historical Institute Paris – Deutsche Historische Institute [DHI)], in charge of a comparative study on French and German Museum concepts in collaboration with the Berlin Institute for Advanced Study (Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin). Subsequently, in 1992, he became a visiting scholar at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles. He was the curator at the Deutsches Historisches Museum from 1989 to 2001, and the director of the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden, from 1991 to 2000. He was the president of the Deutscher Musemsbund e.V. (German Museums Association) from 1995 to 2003, and a member of the advisory board of the Bundesminister des Auswärtigen (German Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in Berlin until his relocation to London in 2011. From 1996 to 2001, Roth was a member of the senior management of the Expo 2000 in Hanover and the director of Thematic Exhibitions.

Roth was the director general of the Dresden State Art Collections, overseeing 12 museums and galleries.{{cite news|last1=Noone|first1=Brian|title=In Conversation: Martin Roth|url=https://centurion-magazine.com/lifestyle/art-design/martin-roth-director-of-va-interview|accessdate=April 18, 2016|work=Centurion|date=March 2016}}

In 2011, he left Dresden{{Cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOvHwemiin4 | title=Verabschiedung Prof. Dr. Martin Roth | website=YouTube }} to become the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.{{cite web|title=Martin Roth, Director of the V&A|url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/martin-roth/|publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum|accessdate=20 March 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406223130/http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/martin-roth/|archivedate=6 April 2013|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|title=V&A museum appoints German academic as its new director|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13161834|accessdate=20 March 2014|newspaper=BBC News|date=21 April 2011}}

Under his leadership, the museum received a record number of 3.8 million visitors. It opened the Europe 1600–1815 galleries in 2015 and reopened the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Galleries in 2016. The exhibition "Savage Beauty", first shown at The Metropolitan Museum in New York and reconfigured for the V&A, won the Museums + Heritage award for Best Temporary Exhibition of 2015.[http://awards.museumsandheritage.com/feature/temporary-or-touring-exhibition/ Museums and Heritage award for Best Temporary Exhibition of 2015] The V&A was also recognized as Museum of the Year by the UK's Museum Prize Trust in 2016.[https://www.artfund.org/news/2016/07/06/victoria-and-albert-museum-wins-museum-of-the-year-2016 Museum of the Year in 2016]

Other major projects during his directorship included the museum's new Exhibition Road entrance,{{cite web |title=V&A Museum gets go-ahead for £41m underground extension |date=11 July 2012 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821035631/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/jul/11/vanda-underground-extension-plan-permission |archive-date=21 August 2022 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/jul/11/vanda-underground-extension-plan-permission}} designed by Amanda Levete; plans to expand with V&A East in Stratford, London;[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/02/london-olympicopolis-culture-hub-stratford V&A East in Stratford, East London] and the Kengo Kuma-designed V&A Dundee in Scotland.[http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/pictures-take-sneak-peak-amazing-4280095 V&A Dundee in Scotland] The V&A's international programme and profile developed markedly under Martin Roth's leadership the V&A will partner with the Smithsonian Institution to create a permanent gallery space as a part of V&A East; the V&A and China Merchants Gekou Holdings (CMGK) have jointly launched the Design Society, a complex comprising a new design museum by Maki and Associates, and the V&A Gallery.

In 2007, Roth was appointed the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in the rank of Chevalier and, in 2010, to the Danish Order of Dannebrog (Dannebrogordenen).{{cite news|last=Gabbatt|first=Adam|title=V&A appoints Martin Roth as director|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/apr/21/victoria-albert-museum-martin-roth-director|accessdate=20 March 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 April 2011}} In 2013, he was awarded th the Brilliant Contribution Award of International Cultural Exchange by People's Republic of China. In 2015, he received the Pushkin Medal, Russia, and Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse, Germany.

Roth stepped down as director of the V&A on 6 September 2016. While he had planned to leave the museum by 2017, he brought forward his departure following what he said was "despair" at the vote to Leave the European Union, which he described as a "personal defeat".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/sep/05/german-v-and-a-director-martin-roth-quits-brexit-vote|title=V&A director's decision to quit hastened by Brexit vote|first=Mark Brown Arts|last=correspondent|date=5 September 2016|publisher=|accessdate=7 August 2017|newspaper=The Guardian}} Roth was replaced by the historian, journalist and former Labour MP Tristram Hunt.{{Cite news|last=Stewart|first=Heather|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/13/tristram-hunt-to-quit-as-mp-to-become-va-director?CMP=share_btn_tw|title=Tristram Hunt to quit as MP to become V&A director|work=The Guardian|date=13 January 2017|accessdate=13 January 2017|issn=0261-3077}}

At the time of his death, Roth was a special advisor to the German Foreign Ministry for Cultural Matters and the president-elect of IfA, Institute for Foreign Relations (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen).{{cite web|url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2016/160621_ifa-Roth.html?nn=389308|title=Martin Roth|author=|date=|website=Auswärtiges Amt|accessdate=7 August 2017}} He was also a trustee of the Goethe Institute, the foundation of arts and music for Dresden (Stiftung Kunst und Musik für Dresden), Germany, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Agenda 2020 Culture Panel, non-executive director of Expo 2020 Dubai, member of the advisory board of the {{ill|Kunstsammlung Würth|De|Sammlung Würth}}, member of the board of the foundation of arts and music for Dresden (Stiftung Kunst und Musik für Dresden) and senior associate at the AEA Consulting.[http://aeaconsulting.com AEA Consulting.]

Roth was appointed co-curator of the Azerbaijan Pavilion, sponsored by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, at the 2017 Venice Biennale.Perlson, Hili (5 May 2017). "[https://news.artnet.com/art-world/martin-roth-shocks-azerbaijan-venice-biennale-949736 Ex-V&A Director Martin Roth Shocks With Statement About Azerbaijan’s ‘Tolerance]". Artnet News. Artnet. artnet.com. Retrieved 7 August 2017."[http://heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/en/content/view/59/4494/%2Fen%2Fcontent%2Frss Azerbaijan is represented at the 57th Venice Biennale with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation]" (press release). Heydar Aliyev Foundation. heydar-aliyev-foundation.org. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017. In his curator's statement, Roth described Azerbaijan as "a blueprint for the tolerant coexistence of people of different cultures”. Azerbaijan subsequently widely reproduced printed images of Roth together with his "blueprint" assertion.Dege, Stefan (12 May 2017). "[http://www.dw.com/de/kurator-martin-roth-verteidigt-biennale-auftritt-f%C3%BCr-aserbaidschan/a-38808698 Kurator Martin Roth verteidigt Biennale-Auftritt für Aserbaidschan]" (interview with Martin Roth; in German). Deutsche Welle. dw.com. Retrieved 8 August 2017.

A response editorial in Der Tagesspiegel questioned whether Roth had "left his mind behind in London", pointing out that, according to Human Rights Watch, Azerbaijan, under President Ilham Aliyev (the "dictator of Baku") has "one of the worst human rights records in the international community".Schaper, Rüdiger (3 May 2017). "[http://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/martin-roth-auf-der-biennale-von-venedig-lernen-von-aserbaidschan/19751226.html Lernen von Aserbaidschan: Martin Roth auf der Biennale von Venedig]" (in German). Der Tagesspiegel. tagesspiegel.de. Retrieved 8 August 2017. In a subsequent interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Roth objected to the Der Tagesspiegel article, saying that he had not been claiming Azerbaijan as a "blueprint" for "freedom" and that the Azerbaijan pavilion exhibition was not about "freedom" but was only about "tolerance and harmony", which Roth described as being "impressive" (in Azerbaijan). Deutsche Welle asked Roth how he felt about "freedom" being separated from "tolerance and harmony" and how his "blueprint for diversity and tolerance" assessment of Azerbaijan fitted with Human Rights Watch's assessment of Azerbaijan. Roth declined to reply to those issues, saying they were not suitable discussions for a live interview. He denied he had been used by Azerbaijan.

In a later interview with The Art Newspaper, Roth said that his calling Azerbaijan a "blueprint for tolerance" in his statement "might have been a mistake" but defended his involvement with Azerbaijan, saying that "the art world also needs to talk to regimes it opposes". Roth said he had been working with artists from Azerbaijan for many years.Bomsdorf, Clemens (25 May 2017). "[http://theartnewspaper.com/news/former-v-a-director-martin-roth-defends-involvement-with-azerbaijan-pavilion-/ Former V&A director Martin Roth defends co-curating Azerbaijan pavilion]". The Art Newspaper. theartnewspaper.com. Retrieved 7 August 2017. In 2015, while director of the V&A, Roth met with Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture and Tourism and was subsequently invited by Azerbaijan to the 7th Alliance of Civilizations forum held in Baku.{{cite news |url=http://en.azvision.az/Abulfas-Garayev-met-with--23211-xeber.html |title=Abulfas Garayev met with director of Victoria and Albert Museum |work=Azerbaijani Vision |date=19 November 2015 |accessdate=8 August 2017 }} In an interview for Berliner Zeitung, Roth said that he had visited Baku just once and that his information about the multicultural character of Azerbaijan had come from Leyla Akhundzade, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and Tourism sector head.{{cite news |last1=Ruthe |first1=Ingeborg |last2=Nutt |first2=Harry |date=9 May 2017 |url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/kultur/interview-mit-martin-roth--was-ich-in-meinem-leben-nicht-akzeptiere--sind-redeverbote--26870630 |title=Interview mit Martin Roth: 'Was ich in meinem Leben nicht akzeptiere, sind Redeverbote' |work=Berliner Zeitung |language=German |accessdate=8 August 2017 }}

An article in The Guardian in September 2017 revealed that Azerbaijan's ruling elite had operated a secret $2.9bn (£2.2bn) scheme to pay prominent Europeans, buy luxury goods and launder money through a network of opaque British companies.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/04/uk-at-centre-of-secret-3bn-azerbaijani-money-laundering-and-lobbying-scheme |first1=Luke |last1=Harding |first2=Caelainn |last2=Barr |first3=Dina |last3=Nagapetyants |title=UK at centre of secret $3bn Azerbaijani money laundering and lobbying scheme |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 September 2017 |accessdate=31 October 2017 }} Its intention was to deflect criticism of Aliyev and to promote a positive image of his oil-rich country. However, the newspaper also points out that the money arrived via a disguised route and that not all recipients were aware of its original source. Roth is not mentioned in the article.

Roth died in Berlin on 6 August 2017 at the age of 62.[https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/kunst/er-erfand-das-museum-neu-zum-tod-von-martin-roth-15139430.html Er erfand das Museum neu] {{in lang|de}} He had been diagnosed as suffering from cancer immediately after his resignation from the V&A."Former V&A director Martin Roth has died aged 62", The Art Newspaper, 7 August 2017. [https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/former-vanda-director-martin-roth-has-died-aged-62] In its obituary of Roth, the Moscow-based media website Vesnik Kavkaza described him as "the man who loved Azerbaijan".{{Cite web|url=http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/Martin-Roth-who-loved-Azerbaijan.html|title = Martin Roth, who loved Azerbaijan}}

• President of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Germany, 1 July 2017 until his death on 6 August"[http://www.ifa.de/en/about-us/organizational-structure/president.html IFA President: Prof. Dr. Martin Roth]". Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen. ifa.de. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
• Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Agenda 2020 Culture Panel[https://www.olympic.org/olympic-agenda-2020 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
• International Olympic Committee (IOC), member of the Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission[https://www.olympic.org/culture-and-olympic-heritage-commission Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission] International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• Honorary Fellow of the Arts University Bournemouth and distinguished visiting professor at the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, University of British Columbia[http://www.pwias.ubc.ca/profile/martin-roth Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies University Centre, University of British Columbia]

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Category:1955 births

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