They developed their art collections in a systematic fashion; in the process, they not only provided a foundation of extraordinary masterpieces for the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, but also made these works accessible to select circles in their own time.

[3] The association includes twelve museums which operate independently within the context of their own collection, but all share various institutions and facilities as well as a central administration.

Dresden Castle houses the Historic Green Vault (Historisches Grüne Gewölbe) and the New Green Vault (Neues Grüne Gewölbe), the Numismatic Cabinet (Münzkabinett), the Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs (Kupferstich-Kabinett), and the Armory (Rüstkammer) with the Turkish Chamber (Türckische Cammer).

The Zwinger palace contains the Old Masters Picture Gallery (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister), the Porcelain Collection (Porzellansammlung), and the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments (Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon).

Other restitutions are planned, but due to the covid epidemic, the transfer of two watercolor drawings with religious motifs by Peter Fendi (1796-1842) and an oil study of a girl with a parrot by Jakob Gensler (1808-1848) to the descendants of the former owner living in the USA and Great Britain have been postponed.