The British Museum has announced the appointment of Nicholas Cullinan, the current chief of the National Portrait Gallery, as its new director. This decision comes in the wake of the recent resignation of the previous director, Hartwig Fischer, following the revelation of over 1,800 missing artifacts believed to be stolen from the museum.
Mark Jones, the former head of the Victoria and Albert Museum, has been serving as the interim director since Fischer's departure. Cullinan, who has been leading the National Portrait Gallery since 2015, will take over the role in the summer.
Cullinan expressed his honor at becoming the director of one of the world's greatest museums and emphasized his commitment to guiding the institution through significant architectural and intellectual transformations. He aims to enhance the museum's engagement and collaboration on a global scale.
The museum's recent challenges include the dismissal of curator Paul Higgs over the missing items, with the museum filing a lawsuit against him for alleged theft. Despite denying the accusations, Higgs faces legal action from the museum.
The British Museum, a popular tourist destination in London, is known for its diverse collection ranging from Egyptian artifacts to Indigenous masks. However, it faces mounting pressure over the ownership of items acquired during the British Empire era, such as the contested Parthenon Marbles taken from Greece.
Greece has long sought the return of the marbles, leading to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Efforts to reach a compromise, including a potential long-term loan, have faced obstacles, with recent cancellations of planned meetings between British and Greek officials.
With Cullinan's appointment, the British Museum aims to embark on a new chapter with renewed confidence and a proactive approach to addressing its challenges and maintaining its status as a leading cultural institution.
