VIENNA.- Dr. Sabine Haag, Head of the Kunstkammer, and of the Secular and Sacred Treasury of the Kunsthistorisches Musuem, will become General Director of the Kunsthistorisches Museum from January 1, 2009. The announcement was made today by the Austrian Minister of Culture, Dr. Claudia Schmied, after a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

“Dr. Sabine Haag is the ideal appointment for the Kunsthistorisches Museum. In this case, the best appointment for the institution comes from within the institution. She is a consistent, experienced and innovative employee at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. She knows the place in all its diversity and has won the respect and admiration of the staff. Her research and publications are known far beyond the borders of Austria. The flagship of our cultural heritage will be steered towards a good future with her at the helm,” said the Minister of Culture, Dr. Claudia Schmied on the appointment of Dr. Sabine Haag.

“In the past few weeks and months I have had some very good discussions with national and international candidates, both male and female, as well as with many experts. The great interest shown as well as the national and international willingness to assume this task are evidence of the importance of this institution. I am pleased to be able to present Dr. Sabine Haag as the most well suited personality for the job. I wish to offer my thanks to Dr. Wilfried Seipel for his work and for enabling a good handover to take place,” Cultural Minister Claudia Schmied concluded.

In the accompanying Staff Assembly, the new General Director, Dr. Sabine Haag, was enthusiastically acclaimed by the gathered personnel of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Ethnological Museum and the Austrian Theatre Museum, and the decision made by Federal Minister Dr. Claudia Schmied warmly welcomed.

The chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dkfm. Peter Püspök, the Deputy General Director, Dr. Karl Schütz, the Chief Finance Office, Dr. Paul Frey, and the Head of the Workers’ Council, Dr. Roswitha Denk, were all unanimously delighted with the “in-house solution”, seeing in appointment of Sabine Haag a clear signal in favour of the scientific work and competence of the institution.