Mark Jones has been named interim director of the British Museum within the wake of the theft controversy engulfing the London establishment. Jones replaces Hartwig Fischer, who stepped down on 25 August, saying that the “British Museum didn’t reply as comprehensively because it ought to have in response to the warnings [of thefts] in 2021”.
Round 2,000 objects seem to have been stolen. In the meantime, Peter Higgs, who had been a Greek and Roman curator for over 30 years, was fired in July and is now going through a police investigation; Higgs’s household has denied the allegations in opposition to him.
Jones’s appointment—which is topic to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s approval— was confirmed in a press release issued immediately by George Osborne, chair of the museum trustees, who says: “Mark is among the most skilled and revered museum leaders on this planet, and he’ll provide the management and grip the museum wants proper now.
“We’re each clear that his priorities are to speed up the cataloguing of the gathering, enhance safety and reinforce pleasure within the curatorial mission of the museum. This sits alongside the most important renovation work we’re endeavor, and the partnerships we’re forging, to make sure that we construct a stronger future for the museum all of us love and admire.”
Jones, who studied on the Courtauld Institute of Artwork, was assistant keeper of Cash and Medals on the British Museum (1974-1990) after which keeper of Cash and Medals from 1990 to 1992. He was later appointed director of the Nationwide Museums Scotland (1992-2001) after which led the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (2001-2011) the place he oversaw the £120m Future Plan renewal programme.
Jones and Carl Heron, who was named performing deputy director final week, should cope with the instant challenges ensuing from probably the most critical disaster which the British Museum has confronted for many years.
Cultural commentators say that the principle precedence for the brand new interim director must be to revive belief, with custodianship and care of the gathering paramount. “Restitution and main renovations can solely comply with as soon as the museum has regained the boldness of its public and stakeholders,” says an nameless museum sector supply.
