Bernd Scherer (born 1955) holds a doctoral degree in Philosophy from the Universität des Saarlandes and is author of several publications focusing on aesthetics and international cultural exchange. He returned to the Haus der Kulturen der Welt as Director in 2006 from the Goethe Institute, where he served as Director of the Goethe Institute Mexico from 1999 through 2004 and subsequently as Director of the Arts Department for the Head Office in Munich. Previously, Scherer headed the Department of Humanities and Culture at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt and also served as its Deputy Director. The start of his directorship represents a return to an institution in which he from 1994-1999 played a decisive role with respect to organisational and artistic development.