BM seeks loans from Greece for exhibition
Ancient Greece exhibition prompts calls for return of Parthenon marbles
A major exhibition on ancient Greece opening at the British Museum next March will include a selection of the Parthenon marbles. The show will “be a new look at the Greek body in art and thought and its connections with other world cultures”, according to the museum’s annual review for 2013-14.
“It will include some examples from the Parthenon sculptures but only a select few; it is not the case that the entire collection will be moved for the exhibition, the majority will remain on display in the permanent galleries,” said a museum spokeswoman.
“We are certainly seeking international loans and will request to borrow objects from Greece,” she added.
The exhibition, to be held in the new Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery, will be the first in a series to focus on what the museum calls its "real blockbuster": the permanent collection.
The move has, however, again prompted calls for the Parthenon marbles to be returned to Greece.
The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles said in a statement addressed to the British Museum: “Return to Athens the Parthenon sculptures in your collection. If you do it now, [we are] sure that the Greek government will provide you with adequate exemplars for your new exhibition.”
The Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports in Athens declined to comment.
According to the museum’s website, the trustees of the British Museum believe that the sculptures, acquired by the British envoy Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, “need to continue to be seen within the context of the world collection of the British Museum in order to deepen our understanding of their significance within world cultural history”.
Last October, Unesco wrote to William Hague, the foreign secretary, and Maria Milller, then the culture secretary, inviting them to take part in a “mediation procedure” with the Greek government in a bid to resolve the dispute over the sculptures.
“We are aware that Unesco has invited the UK and Greece to resolve the issue of ownership through mediation and the government will respond to the request in due course,” said a spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
“It will include some examples from the Parthenon sculptures but only a select few; it is not the case that the entire collection will be moved for the exhibition, the majority will remain on display in the permanent galleries,” said a museum spokeswoman.
“We are certainly seeking international loans and will request to borrow objects from Greece,” she added.
The exhibition, to be held in the new Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery, will be the first in a series to focus on what the museum calls its "real blockbuster": the permanent collection.
The move has, however, again prompted calls for the Parthenon marbles to be returned to Greece.
The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles said in a statement addressed to the British Museum: “Return to Athens the Parthenon sculptures in your collection. If you do it now, [we are] sure that the Greek government will provide you with adequate exemplars for your new exhibition.”
The Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports in Athens declined to comment.
According to the museum’s website, the trustees of the British Museum believe that the sculptures, acquired by the British envoy Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, “need to continue to be seen within the context of the world collection of the British Museum in order to deepen our understanding of their significance within world cultural history”.
Last October, Unesco wrote to William Hague, the foreign secretary, and Maria Milller, then the culture secretary, inviting them to take part in a “mediation procedure” with the Greek government in a bid to resolve the dispute over the sculptures.
“We are aware that Unesco has invited the UK and Greece to resolve the issue of ownership through mediation and the government will respond to the request in due course,” said a spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.