British Museum

British Museum's chairman suggests 'hybrid' deal with Greece over Parthenon Marbles

"I think there is a way forward where the sculptures could be seen both in London and in Athens, and that will be a win-win for Greece and for us,” George Osborne says

British Museum staff to strike as cultural workers across UK take industrial action—including during school holiday

Workers at the Wallace Collection, Historic England, National Museums Scotland and the National Museum of Liverpool will also be striking over pay and labour conditions

Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton: the enduring allure of art and luxury

Plus, Michael Rakowitz's ambitious restitution plans and Rosy Martin's photographical iconostasis

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Aimee Dawson
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British Museum's hopes of a 'loan arrangement' for the return of the Parthenon Marbles imperilled ahead of Greek elections

The Greek prime minister has pledged to repatriate the 2,500-year-old sculptures if re-elected

Parthenon Marbles: is a breakthrough in sight?

Plus, Afghan culture in crisis and Kiki Smith’s New York murals

Hosted by Ben Luke. With guest speaker Sarvy Geranpayeh. Produced by David Clack, Aimee Dawson and Henrietta Bentall
Sponsored byChristie's

Secret talks between British Museum and Greece to return Parthenon Marbles in 'advanced stages'

If a deal is finalised, the contested sculptures are expected to be returned to Greece in early 2023, and will be displayed at the Acropolis Museum in Athens

'Don't expect us to be passive' in the face of restitution: British Museum chair defies return of looted artefacts

In speech at the annual trustees dinner George Osborne said that "dismantling" the collection "must not become the careless act of a single generation”

As infrastructure crumbles, British Museum plans to fix Parthenon Marbles gallery next

The decision to prioritise the revamp of the museum’s Greek and Assyrian displays comes amid escalating calls for the permanent return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens

UK heritage minister says government has no plans to amend law that prevents museums from 'disposing' of objects

The 1983 National Heritage Act was debated in the House of Lords—but the issue of reform will be further discussed ahead of its 40-year anniversary in May 2023

Protestors at British Museum demand release of writer imprisoned in Egypt

Plight of British-Egyptian Alaa Abd El-Fattah, currently on hunger strike, is focal point of protest as hieroglyphs exhibition opens

British Museum’s cracking tale of ancient Egyptian code, scholarly rivalry, sex and a magic bath

A new exhibition based around the Rosetta Stone marks 200 years since hieroglyphs were deciphered

Eight exhibitions to see during London's Frieze Week

From Cezanne's love of Provence at Tate Modern to cracking the Ancient Egyptian code at the British Museum

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss rules out deal with Greece over Parthenon Marbles

Move rebuffs George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, who proposed a new collaborative arrangement

Pressure on British Museum to ditch BP mounts following UK's record summer heatwave

Temperatures might now be cooling, but tensions around the London institution’s ties to the oil giant are reaching boiling point

London museums close galleries as temperatures reach record high

Staff union claims it pressured the V&A and British Museum to take special measures

Copies of the Parthenon Marbles—carved by a robot—to go on show in London

Project by Oxford’s Institute for Digital Archaeology fuels debate about restitution of controversial sculptures

'Despite being an ethnic Greek, I supported Britain's claim to the Parthenon Marbles—here is why my position has changed'

"The arguments against their return to Greece are no longer tenable," argues art historian and museum professional Eleni Vassilika

'Returning the Parthenon Marbles to Athens would only feed the beast of nationalist myth—let them tell their story in London'

"Let’s choose, following Aristotle, historical truth over an emotive friendship," says classical archaeologist Mario Trabucco della Torretta

British Museum presses on minting NFTs despite crypto crash—when will UK museums stop seeing artworks as assets?

This Diary's predictions about NFTs, Brexit and Boris Johnson have all come true. But Britain removing image restrictions on art would be the ultimate victory

There is a ‘deal to be done’ with Greece over Parthenon Marbles, says British Museum chairman George Osborne

The comments from the former chancellor signals dramatic shift in museum’s policy and attitude ahead of planned protests this weekend

Seized antiquities sent from Ukraine to go on show at British Museum

Hoard of medieval metalwork had been illegally mailed to the UK, and will be sent to Kyiv museum when safe to do so

Britain’s major messaging failure on Parthenon Marbles

The UN says it has facilitated a meeting for British officials to discuss restitution with the Greek minister of culture, but Britain denies this

Cambodia urges UK museums to investigate and return looted treasures allegedly handled by dealer Douglas Latchford

British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum now under scrutiny of Cambodian government

The British Museum's NFT project has sent its carbon footprint soaring

Since the London museum began selling digital versions of works from its collection last September, it has emitted enough carbon to power an average US home for at least 57 years

Sackler name will be removed from British Museum galleries, rooms and endowments

The removals are the result of a mutual agreement between the museum and the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation

The British Museum says it needs another £1bn to refurbish itself—first it must prove it deserves it

It's time to drag the institution out of its entrenched past and into the 21st century