The position of director at the British Museum, one of the most challenging roles in the art world, is now open for applications with a salary of £215,841. The successful candidate will face the task of rebuilding the museum’s reputation, which has been tarnished by various issues. The application pack, provided by employment agency advisor Saxton Bampfylde Ltd, outlines responsibilities such as leading a workforce of nearly 1,000 people, fostering a positive culture change, and managing a dynamic executive team.
Last year, the British Museum encountered problems, including the revelation that 2,000 antiquities were stolen or damaged over a span of more than two decades. The previous director, Hartwig Fischer, resigned in August. The museum has since recovered 351 items and identified over 300 other missing objects. A review highlighted governance issues and called for fundamental management reforms.
The institution is also facing ongoing pressure to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has urged their repatriation, and the museum’s chair, George Osborne, expressed openness to reaching an agreement with Greece.
In an introductory letter in the application document, Osborne acknowledges the museum’s challenges but emphasizes its strength and readiness for change. The museum’s ongoing digitization project, completion of the first phase of the Masterplan, and plans for a new energy center and gallery redesign are highlighted as positive developments.
However, the museum’s masterplan, backed by oil giant BP with a £50 million contribution over ten years, has faced criticism. The plan includes the construction of a new Archaeological Research Collection and an energy center aimed at reducing carbon emissions. An international architectural competition is also set to redesign galleries housing antiquities from Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
