British Museum boss opens door for return of marbles

The new director of the British Museum has suggested the institution could pursue a “lending library" approach under his tenure potentially paving the way for a return of the Parthenon marbles, formerly known as the Elgin marbles.

- MADELINE SHERRATT

Nicholas Cullinan OBE, former head of the National Portrait Gallery, declared his ambition to "do something positive" with the museum’s legacy as the debate continues over the return of historically significant colonial artefacts to their countries of origin.

When questioned about returning such items on a temporary basis, including the marbles and the Benin bronzes, Mr Cullinan opened the door to such an agreement. “I would hope a partnership of some form is possible, and that is something I think we will definitely want to take forward. I think it’s a bit too soon for me to get into the particulars around how that could work, but I’m hopeful,” he said.

While acknowledging that the repatriation of the Parthenon sculptures would not be in his gift, owing to a 1963 act of parliament that bars by law the return of certain works, his willingness to cooperate with other institutions around the world does represent a new footing for the museum, which holds some 8 million artefacts in its collection.