British Museum has appointed Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE as the brand new Director following the unanimous approval of the Board of Trustees and the settlement of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The Chair of the Board of Trustees, George Osborne, has introduced that Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE has been appointed Director of the British Museum following approval by the Authorities. Learn our full assertion right here: https://t.co/OE2r3Q4QWF
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— British Museum (@britishmuseum) March 28, 2024
By way of an official assertion, George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum, stated:
“The Trustees selected Nicholas Cullinan as the brand new Director of the British Museum as a result of he brings confirmed management in the present day and nice potential for tomorrow.He has proven his capability as Director of the Nationwide Portrait Gallery to supervise each a serious bodily renovation and a compelling renewal of function in a means that doesn’t take sides, however brings folks collectively – and received common acclaim.
He added, “We imagine he can obtain this and extra on the larger scale of the British Museum as we undertake a once-in-a-generation redevelopment.In doing so, he can construct on the strong foundations laid by Mark Jones, to whom we owe an enormous debt of gratitude for getting into the breach final yr.I couldn’t be extra thrilled for Nick and extra excited for us as we enter this new chapter within the lengthy story of the British Museum with confidence and again on the entrance foot.”
Dr. Cullinan assumes the position of Sir Mark Jones, who served as Interim Director after Hartwig Fischer’s resignation as a result of thefts on the London-based establishment.
A New Period Begins: Dr Nicholas Cullinan Leads British Museum Ahead
Dr Nicholas Cullinan, one of many UK’s famend and skilled museum administrators, has efficiently led the Nationwide Portrait Gallery since April 2015.
Throughout his time on the Nationwide Portrait Gallery, Dr Cullinan led essentially the most important transformation within the Gallery’s historical past since its constructing opened in 1896.
He efficiently oversaw a whole re-presentation of the Assortment and applied important redevelopment of the constructing, increasing public area by one-fifth.
He additionally initiated an progressive worldwide collaboration with Getty to co-acquire Portrait of Mai (c. 1776) by Sir Joshua Reynolds – the most important acquisition within the Gallery’s historical past and that the UK has ever made.
Earlier than that, he labored on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork in New York and Tate Fashionable in London as a curator, bringing a global perspective to his method.
Notably, he co-curated an exhibition of Henri Matisse’s cut-outs with Sir Nicholas Serota in 2014. It’s the preferred exhibition in Tate’s historical past and the primary to obtain greater than half one million guests.
The Stolen Artifacts Scandal
In August 2023, the British Museum revealed the invention of lacking and broken objects in its assortment, prompting an impartial safety overview.
Consequently, the establishment additionally terminated a workers member suspected of stealing assortment objects, primarily Historic Greek and Roman jewelry, and gems saved inside a chosen storage space. They embody gold jewelry and gems of semiprecious stones and glass courting from the fifteenth century BC to the nineteenth century AD.
The extensively reported incident resulted within the resignation of Director Hartwig Fischer and Deputy Director Jonathan Williams.
The museum additionally sued former Senior Curator Dr Peter Higgs, alleging that he stole artefacts from its Collections and distributed them to dozens of consumers over ten years.
Legal professionals performing on behalf of the London museum’s trustees say there’s “compelling proof” that Dr Higgs “abused his place of belief” between at the least July 2009 and January 2018.
It’s alleged that tons of of the objects that have been absent have been listed on the market on eBay, with PayPal utilised for transaction facilitation. The courtroom proceedings revealed earlier this month that, to this point, 356 stolen objects have been recovered.
This scandal, which shook the foundations of the museum world, underscored the pressing want for decisive motion and visionary management.
Subsequently, Dr. Cullinan’s appointment alerts a dedication to addressing systemic challenges and implementing sturdy safety measures to stop future incidents.
On high of that, this appointment is a strategic transfer that goals to rebuild belief as cultural heritage establishments face rising scrutiny over how they defend invaluable treasures.
Reimagining the British Museum
The poaching of Dr Cullinan from the Nationwide Portrait Gallery displays the British Museum’s dedication to recruit high expertise and introduce recent views to its management workforce.
His appointment has obtained widespread commendation from the cultural neighborhood, with many lauding it as a constructive step in the direction of rebuilding public belief.
As Dr. Cullinan assumes his place, he faces a frightening however transformative problem. The street forward would require unwavering dedication, strategic foresight, and a dedication to fostering a tradition of integrity and accountability.
Amidst the stolen artefacts scandal, the British Museum stands at a crossroads, poised to redefine its position as a custodian of world heritage. With Dr. Nicholas Cullinan on the helm, there’s renewed optimism that the museum will emerge stronger and extra resilient, prepared to write down a brand new chapter in its storied historical past.
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