New British Museum Boss May Return Elgin Marbles with Lending Library Model

The new director of the British Museum has suggested the institution could adopt a “lending library” approach during his tenure, potentially opening the door for the return of the Elgin Marbles.

Nicholas Cullinan OBE, former head of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG), expressed his desire to “do something positive” with the museum’s legacy amid ongoing discussions about the return of historically significant colonial artefacts.

When asked about returning items such as the Marbles and the Benin Bronzes, Cullinan indicated he was open to collaborating with other museums worldwide. He noted that loaning artefacts could be a favorable model. “The challenge for us is to not deny or suppress this but to be open and think about how we can do something positive with this legacy,” he told the BBC in his first interview since assuming his new role.

Though Cullinan acknowledged that the Parthenon Sculptures could not be returned due to a 1963 Act of Parliament that legally prohibits the return of certain works, his openness to cooperation with global museums signals a new direction for the British Museum, which boasts a collection of around 8 million artefacts.

“We can’t give them back because of the Act of Parliament 1963—we’re not allowed to deaccession,” he explained.

Nevertheless, Cullinan spoke enthusiastically about the potential for collaboration concerning the Marbles. “I would hope that some form of partnership is possible, and it’s definitely something we want to pursue,” he said, adding that it was too early to provide specifics and that the issue would ultimately be a matter for Parliament.

The Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, are a collection of over 30 ancient sculptures from Greece, removed during the early 1800s and held in the British Museum since then.

In the early 19th century, Athens was ruled by the Ottoman Empire for nearly 350 years. Lord Elgin, the British Ambassador to the Ottomans, successfully petitioned for the removal of these figures.

Two centuries later, the Parthenon Sculptures remain a contentious issue, with the Greek government formally requesting their return in 1983.

Cullinan’s comments come just months after former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sparked controversy by canceling a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the last minute upon learning that the return of the artefacts was to be discussed.

The British Museum has also recently endured turmoil due to criminal proceedings against a former staff member accused of stealing and damaging 1,800 items, allegations which the individual denies.

Cullinan praised the efforts of the museum’s 1,000 employees, who have undertaken a “forensic and painstaking process” to recover around half of the missing artefacts—a task originally expected to take at least five years.

The controversy surrounding the resignation of trustees also surfaced in discussions, centering on the museum’s relationship with oil and gas giant British Petroleum (BP).

While Cullinan severed ties with BP during his tenure at the NPG, he stated that the British Museum’s context was different, as it relies on privatized funding to support the UK taxpayer.

The Independent has reached out to the British Museum for further comment.