Bright 'internet future' for museums could be impeded by lack of progress over Parthenon Marbles 

The prospect of a technologically-driven future for museums, outlined this week by British Museum director Neil MacGregor and Tate director Nicholas Serota, could be impaired unless the issue of the Parthenon Marbles is satisfactorily resolved, says the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (www.parthenonuk.com and twitter BCRPM).

Neil MacGregor's 'real question ...  how the Greek and British governments can work together so that the Parthenon sculptures can be seen in China and Africa', is quite impossible to settle without reuniting the sculptures where they belong.

"Let us have a sensible negotiation on the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures, between equals, without any prior stipulations about ownership and possession. Only then can the possibilities for the transmission of the sculptures to other countries, whether physical or virtual, be seriously discussed," commented Professor Anthony Snodgrass, Chairman for the BCRPM.

Contrary to Neil MacGregor's comment to guests at the event at the London School of Economics, that the Parthenon Marbles issue was "yesterday's question", a Guardian poll last week revealed that 94% of respondents wished to see the Marbles returned to the New Acropolis Museum in Athens.

"The Parthenon Marbles issue is very much today's question and will continue to be so until the British Museum agrees to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Greeks without constraining prior conditions," adds Dr Tom Flynn, Head of Communications for the BCRPM.

For more information or comment please contact Professor Anthony Snodgrass on 01223 313 599, ams1002@cam.ac.uk and Dr Tom Flynn on Tel: 020 8769 8261, mobile 07743 693577, tomflynn@btinternet.com (Blog: www.artknows.co.uk)

Ends: issued on behalf of the BCRPM by Marlen Taffarello, 0208 905 6703 or email marlen@fcdcom.co.uk

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