Digital Editions
Newsletters
Subscribe
Digital Editions
Newsletters
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
British Museum thefts
news

British Museum thefts: Mark Jones named interim director of the British Museum

The former V&A director was keeper of coins and medal at the embattled London institution

Gareth Harris
2 September 2023
Share
Mark Jones

courtesy Fleming Collection

Mark Jones

courtesy Fleming Collection

Mark Jones has been named interim director of the British Museum in the wake of the theft controversy engulfing the London institution. Jones replaces Hartwig Fischer, who stepped down on 25 August, saying that the “British Museum did not respond as comprehensively as it should have in response to the warnings [of thefts] in 2021”.

Around 2,000 items appear to have been stolen. Meanwhile, Peter Higgs, who had been a Greek and Roman curator for over 30 years, was fired in July and is now facing a police investigation; Higgs’s family has denied the allegations against him.

Jones’s appointment—which is subject to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s approval— was confirmed in a statement issued today by George Osborne, chair of the museum trustees, who says: “Mark is one of the most experienced and respected museum leaders in the world, and he will offer the leadership and grip the museum needs right now.

“We are both clear that his priorities are to accelerate the cataloguing of the collection, improve security and reinforce pride in the curatorial mission of the museum. This sits alongside the major renovation work we’re undertaking, and the partnerships we’re forging, to ensure that we build a stronger future for the museum we all love and admire.”

Jones, who studied at the Courtauld Institute of Art, was assistant keeper of Coins and Medals at the British Museum (1974-1990) and then keeper of Coins and Medals from 1990 to 1992. He was later appointed director of the National Museums of Scotland (1992-2001) and then led the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (2001-2011) where he oversaw the £120m Future Plan renewal programme.

Jones and Carl Heron, who was named acting deputy director last week, will have to deal with the immediate challenges resulting from the most serious crisis which the British Museum has faced for decades.

Cultural commentators say that the main priority for the new interim director should be to restore trust, with custodianship and care of the collection paramount. “Restitution and major renovations can only follow once the museum has regained the confidence of its public and stakeholders,” says an anonymous museum sector source.

British Museum theftsBritish MuseumGeorge OsborneVictoria & Albert Museum
Share
Subscribe to The Art Newspaper’s digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox.
Newsletter sign-up
Information
About
Contact
Cookie policy
Data protection
Privacy policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Subscription T&Cs
Terms and conditions
Advertise
Sister Papers
Sponsorship policy
Follow us
Instagram
Bluesky
LinkedIn
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
© The Art Newspaper

Related content

British Museum theftsnews
31 August 2023

British Museum appoints scientist Carl Heron as acting deputy director

The embattled institution is yet to announce an interim director after the resignation of Hartwig Fischer

Martin Bailey
British Museumnews
2 February 2024

British Museum interim director backs Parthenon Marbles loan plan with Greece

Mark Jones also says BP deal is the ‘right one’ and announces recovered items show

Gareth Harris
British Museum theftsnews
20 May 2024

British Museum recovers a further 268 stolen objects

The institution’s chair George Osborne has described the total number of items returned as a result that “few expected”, though more than 800 remain missing

Martin Bailey
British Museum theftsnews
7 November 2023

British Museum releases further details of independent review into thefts

The review team will now liaise with the police for the criminal investigation

Martin Bailey