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The disaster following the theft of two,000 antiquities on the British Museum (BM) raises elementary questions on how one of many world’s best museums is run and overseen.
Thus far the overwhelming blame has been positioned on the previous director Hartwig Fischer and his deputy Jonathan Williams. They had been in cost when Greek and Roman gems had been stolen. Greater than two years after first being warned in regards to the theft, they ultimately dismissed Peter Higgs, a long-standing senior curator who had been promoted to appearing keeper.
However questions additionally come up in regards to the position of the museum trustees, led by the chair George Osborne, a former chancellor of the exchequer, who succeeded Richard Lambert in October 2021. Have been the trustees monitoring the scenario—and did they act promptly? And what in regards to the authorities’s Division for Tradition, Media and Sport (DCMS), the BM’s main funder? In 2022-23, the DCMS offered £47.8m in income and £20m in capital grant-in-aid.
The procedures for coping with a attainable theft by a senior worker seem to have been woefully ineffective. In 2021, each Williams and Fischer had been warned in regards to the theft by an outsider, the Danish gems knowledgeable Ittai Gradel, however they rejected the allegations, saying no losses had occurred. Osborne was warned in October 2022. But it was not till January this yr that the DCMS says it was knowledgeable a theft was possible and a police inquiry was initiated.
Seven months later, the DCMS secretary of state, Lucy Frazer, made ill-advised feedback. Within the BM’s 28 July announcement on Fischer’s intention to retire, she was quoted as thanking him for “sterling management”, saying that he was leaving a “useful legacy”. However Fischer’s lack of judgement means the museum faces its most damaging disaster because the Second World Battle. By July the BM had labored out that antiquities had gone lacking and the DCMS had been knowledgeable.
The Artwork Newspaper has seemed into the sequence of occasions at an official degree. We perceive that the DCMS was knowledgeable in January 2023 that the BM was trying into attainable irregularities in sure collections. As we reported final month, below the BM’s administration settlement with the DCMS, “all circumstances of tried, suspected or confirmed fraud, no matter the quantity concerned, have to be reported by the British Museum to the division as quickly as they’re found”. Even “suspected” fraud must be disclosed and the time period “fraud” contains theft. It now seems that the DCMS was knowledgeable earlier, in 2021, of allegations that stolen objects had been being offered on-line, however was additionally assured that these claims had no substance.
Accounts exclude any point out of the thefts
Questions come up in regards to the BM’s 2022-23 annual report and accounts, which was laid earlier than parliament on 11 July this yr. Signed by Fischer and Osborne, there isn’t any direct point out of the theft in its 80 pages.
A museum spokesperson urged that there’s an oblique reference, citing a bit within the report (p.34): “In response to findings that some controls weren’t working as anticipated, the BM is focusing its efforts on scrutinising areas of perceived larger threat and, specifically, is concentrating on implementing agreed adjustments to assortment administration and safety procedures and processes, safeguarding, and sustaining cyber safety.”
The accounts are at all times examined by the federal government’s auditor basic, who signed off the BM report on 6 July. He requested the BM’s administration if there have been “any cases of non-compliance with legal guidelines and rules” or if the museum had information of “any precise, suspected, or alleged fraud”. A BM spokesperson says that the auditor basic’s workplace was knowledgeable in regards to the theft (though we have no idea exactly when this was accomplished), however he didn’t make reference to it, apparently following a police request.
The BM spokesperson added: “The particular ‘thefts’ wouldn’t be classed as a threat however as an occasion. Occasions with a monetary influence are disclosed within the acceptable accounting interval.” The accounting yr ran till 31 March and the report provides that there have been “no reportable occasions” from then till July. Nevertheless, it was final October that Osborne was warned in regards to the theft.
What occurs subsequent? On 16 August, Osborne introduced that an unbiased overview was being set as much as make suggestions for future safety preparations and to kickstart “a vigorous programme to get better the lacking objects”. The overview’s detailed phrases of reference should not but identified. A museum spokesperson says that the BM will publish the “suggestions”, though that leaves open whether or not the total report will likely be launched.
The overview is being chaired by Lucy D’Orsi, the chief constable of the British Transport Police, and Nigel Boardman, a BM trustee from 2012 to 2020. Some considerations are being expressed in regards to the overview’s independence, in view of Boardman’s current former position as a trustee and member of the trustees’ audit committee.
A restoration operation is underway. On 26 September, the BM introduced that it had launched a webpage giving particulars of the sort of materials that’s lacking, with a purpose to increase consciousness and improve the probabilities of objects being retrieved. It additionally reported that 60 objects had to date been recovered, with 300 extra “resulting from be returned imminently”. The museum is working with a global taskforce—comprising specialists from the UK, mainland Europe and the US—to attempt to get better the remaining.
An instance from the BM’s new webpage: Late Bronze Age finger-ring, from Enkomi (Cyprus), 1450-1200BC
© Trustees of the British Museum
The police investigation into Higgs continues. Though this may increasingly result in an arrest, fees and a court docket case, we must always stress that to date it stays solely an inquiry. His son Greg advised the media: “I don’t suppose it [his departure] was honest. I don’t suppose there’s even something lacking so far as I’m conscious.”
The disaster could have extreme long-term implications. The masterplan for the whole restoration of the museum constructing and full redisplay of the gathering was resulting from be introduced this autumn. It’s anticipated to take many years and value many a whole lot of tens of millions of kilos. The launch of the masterplan is now more likely to be delayed till subsequent yr.
The BM additionally faces a rising sequence of restitution claims, with claimants arguing that these objects should not secure on the museum. These embody claims for the Parthenon Marbles and the Benin Bronzes. Within the quick time period, claimants are sure to turn into extra vociferous, however senior museum workers could have much less time to cope with claims, due to the necessity to cope with the aftermath of the theft. An interim director may additionally really feel that restitution questions can be higher left to the incoming full director.
Because the sudden departure of Fischer and Williams on 25 August, two interim appointments have been made. Mark Jones, a former director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, is the brand new interim director. Carl Heron, the museum’s director of scientific analysis, is now his deputy.
In the meantime the method of looking for a brand new director and attainable deputy begins this autumn. The director, who will most likely come from exterior the BM, is unlikely to take up their place till the center of 2024. Whoever is chosen will face a difficult process to revive the BM’s tarnished fame.
One outstanding insider advised us that any extremely certified candidate would need robust assurances from the trustees that they actually imply enterprise over reforms: “The candidate will likely be interviewing the museum, not the opposite manner spherical.
Timeline of the British Museum thefts disaster
The story of the thefts stretches again almost a decade
Photograph: lemanieh
2014
The Danish vintage gem specialist and supplier Ittai Gradel begins buying antiquities that he later realises got here from the British Museum (BM). Richard Lambert turns into chair of the BM trustees.
2015
3 December Gradel finds an engraved gem, apparently from the BM, on eBay. He privately suspects that different objects coming onto the market may very well be from the BM assortment.
2016
April The German artwork historian Hartwig Fischer takes over as BM director from Neil MacGregor.
August Gradel finds a chalcedony cameo fragment from the BM on eBay. It apparently disappears from eBay the subsequent day, and is subsequently present in a museum robust room. Gradel additionally identifies a glass gem, which he purchases from the identical vendor and later realises might be from the BM’s Townley Assortment.
2021
1 March Gradel warns BM deputy director Jonathan Williams—naming Peter Higgs, a Greece and Rome division curator, because the possible vendor.
Spring Higgs is promoted from curator to appearing keeper of Greece and Rome, on the departure of Lesley Fitton.
Early June Gradel follows up with Fischer, having obtained no response from Williams.
July At round this time the BM notifies the Division for Tradition, Media and Sport (DCMS) {that a} declare of museum objects being provided on the market on-line has been judged false, following an inside museum investigation.
12 July Williams responds to Gradel that “the objects are all accounted for and with no suggestion of any wrong-doing on behalf of any member of museum workers”.
3 October Osborne takes over from Lambert as chair of the BM trustees.
2022
July Osborne guarantees that the BM’s masterplan for the constructing and its shows will likely be printed “later this yr [2022]” (it nonetheless stays unpublished).
Late August Osborne holds talks with the Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis about lending a few of the Parthenon Marbles in return for reciprocal loans of antiquities from Greece.
October Once more naming Higgs, Gradel writes to warn BM trustee Paul Ruddock of thefts from the gathering. Ruddock promptly forwards the message to Osborne.
October Ruddock responds to Gradel to say that Fischer had written to Osborne stating that “the case has been completely investigated”, with “no proof to substantiate the allegations. The three objects are within the assortment”.
2 November Osborne guarantees that the masterplan for the constructing “will likely be printed subsequent spring”.
3 December BM press assertion on “a brand new Parthenon Partnership” with Greece on the Marbles, presumably involving the partial return of the sculptures.
8 December BM trustees meet, though the theft was not mentioned.
2023
January The Metropolitan Police are known as in to research what’s lastly thought-about a theft.
January The BM informs the DCMS about attainable irregularities in sure collections.
30 January Tom Harrison, from London’s Institute of Classical Research, turns into keeper of Greece and Rome (his appointment had been made in 2022 and was unconnected to the theft). Higgs is subsequently not appearing keeper and turns into a standard curator.
31 January Osborne responds on to Gradel, following a direct communication and demand for motion, to let him know that he’s taking his allegations significantly.
23 March BM trustees meet. The minutes merely document that “an up to date doc was circulated in response to an motion level”, with Fischer and Williams later being requested to depart the assembly for a closed session of the trustees. Though trustees are advised that some objects had been stolen, the gravity of the scenario is just not defined.
Spring Disciplinary procedures are initiated in opposition to Higgs (this was not publicised).
29 June BM trustees meet. The printed minutes should not but out there, however the theft and Fischer’s employment scenario could have been the principle focus.
Early July Higgs is dismissed from the BM workers.
11 July The BM’s Report and Accounts for 2022-23, signed off by Fischer and Osborne, is laid earlier than Parliament. It contains no reference to the theft.
28 July Announcement that “after eight profitable years on the helm of Britain’s most essential cultural establishment, Hartwig Fischer will depart his publish in 2024”. Tradition secretary Lucy Frazer thanks Fischer for his “sterling management” and leaving “a useful legacy”.
16 August First public announcement concerning “lacking, stolen and broken objects”, however with no point out of the person who had been dismissed—a police investigation is underway and an unbiased inquiry is ready up (led by Nigel Boardman and Lucy D’Orsi).
17 August The Each day Telegraph names Peter Higgs (who had been a Greece and Rome curator since 1993).
18 August Greek tradition minister Lina Mendoni says that she is following the BM theft “very fastidiously”, within the gentle of their Parthenon Marbles declare.
23 August Fischer points a private assertion, wherein he says that “at each step my precedence has been the care of the unimaginable British Museum assortment”.
24 August Abba Isa Tijani, director of Nigeria’s Nationwide Fee for Museums and Monuments, requires the restitution of Benin Bronzes.
25 August Fischer pronounces that he’s to resign with quick impact. A couple of hours later it’s introduced that his deputy, Williams, is to “step again”.
26 August Osborne, interviewed on BBC Radio 4, says that “round 2,000” objects are believed lacking.
28 August The World Occasions, which displays Chinese language authorities coverage, requires the return of their objects.
30 August Welsh nationalist chief Liz Saville Roberts requires the return of the Mould Gold Cape.
30 August Carl Heron, director of the BM’s scientific division, is called interim deputy director.
2 September Mark Jones, a former Victoria and Albert Museum director (2001-11), is called interim director.
8 September Christos Tsirogiannis, a Greek educational specialist in looted antiquities, is appointed to assist the BM analysis its assortment.
26 September The BM launches a webpage devoted to the restoration of objects. It additionally pronounces that 60 objects have been recovered, with 300 extra “resulting from be returned imminently”, and pronounces a global taskforce.
Further reporting by Alison Cole
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