Today, Arts Council England (ACE) has issued guidance intended to clarify the process around the return of cultural material to its original owner or place of origin. The 32 page document is entitled 'Restitution and Repatriation: A Practical Guide for Museums in England'. It replaces the previous guidance, the Museums and Galleries Commission of 2000.

To read or download this new guidance, follow the link here.  

In 2020, the announcement was made that this guidance would be prepared in collaboration with the Institute of Art and Law. ACE in the acknowledgements thanks Professor Janet Ulph (University of Leicester) for her involvement in the project, as well as the many experts from the museum sector and beyond who were consulted in developing the guidance.

Delays caused by the pandemic and no doubt the political sensitivity of the document, contributed to the time is took to publish this guidance. BCRPM are hopeful that the outcome will support the British Museum's Deputy Director, Jonathan William's announcement at weekend, where he expresed the museum's willingness to enter into dialogue with Greece, for the future of the Parthenon Marbles. 

The guidance states that, while restitution and repatriation cases can be complex and time-consuming, they "often present rich opportunities for enhancing understanding for all involved".

"Considering a claim for restitution can offer the opportunity for museums to develop their collections knowledge and research, to build relationships with originating communities, to open up dialogue around contested items and to create opportunities for discourse and discussion around cultural heritage," states the guidance.

The document acknowledges the public interest in the debate about restitution and says the guidance is "written in a way that can be accessible to everyone, whether or not they have any previous experience of the English museum sector".

To read more on the Museums Association's reaction, also see Geraldine Kendall Adam's write-up. 

And the response from Artemis Papathanassiou, Senior Legal Advisor at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "An excellent guidance from Arts Council Britain that could be  the inspiration for UK Museums, and in so doing also become leaders in restitution."

A weekend of the Parthenon Marbles dominating the news. From print and digital media outlets to radio, including LBC and Classic FM.

Sarah Baxter wrote in the Times on Saturday asking that vital question, what has changed the British Museum's mind? Visiting Athens, Sarah met with Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni at a gathering in Greece's presidential palace to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the rebirth of democracy after rule by junta. Srah was there with BCRPM member Victoria Hislop.

Sarah writes: 'After decades of bitter stand-off, something is afoot. The Greek culture minister, Lina Mendoni, stopped by. “The atmosphere has changed,” she told us. “With goodwill we can find a way forward for both parties.” She introduced us to the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who also promised Greece was open to negotiations. But, he cautioned, “baby steps are not enough. We want big steps.” '

'It is wishful thinking, of course. But the British Museum knows it is losing the battle for hearts and minds — and after decades of defensiveness it is now ready to talk. A fortnight ago I met Jonathan Williams, the deputy director of the British Museum, in the rabbit warren of offices behind the galleries. “What we are calling for is an active ‘Parthenon partnership’ with our friends and colleagues in Greece,” he announced for the first time. “I firmly believe there is space for a really dynamic and positive conversation within which new ways of working together can be found.” Decode this diplomatic language and there’s a new message: let’s make a deal.'

To read Sarah Baxter's article, follow the link here.

And if you subscribe to the Times, do also vote on the online poll, which when BCRPM did so this morning, it stood at 78% of readers agreeing that the Parthenon Marbles should be given back to Greece. At that point there had been 10,981 folks that had voted.

The story was picked up by several others including LBC's Sangita Myska who spoke with Yannis Andritsopoulos and Ed Vaizey, both adding support for the reunification, plus more newspaper outlets, including: The Guardian, The Independent, The Standard, The Telegraph, The Scotsman, the Daily Mail, the Express, The Greek Reporter, and more!

What does BCRPM think? Good to hear that the British Museum feels it is time to have "dynamic and positive conversation" in cooperation with Greece and the Acropolis Museum about these sculptures, and in order to find a way forward to a 206 year old impasse. This is welcomed. Dialogue is a great start and if both sides are able to approach such dialogue with respect, empathy and understanding, the will to reunite the Parthenon sculptures as close as it is physically possible to the Parthenon, will be hugely uplifting for millions across the globe, not least those supporting this cause in the UK, and in Greece. 

Sadiq Khan makes a resounding intervention on the issue of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, speaking exclusively  to Ta Nea. Article by Yannis Andritsopoulos.

The popular mayor of London, Sadiq Khan asks the British government and the British Museum to enter into dialogue with Greece and calls on them to "stop burying their heads in the sand" in order to find a solution to the problem of the continuing, for more than two centuries, the division of masterpieces designed by Phidias.

"I think we need to start talking about the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures," says Kahn, who last May completed six years in the mayoral post.

"In fact, this is an issue that the citizens of both countries are already discussing," he continues, commenting on opinion polls that show that the majority of Britons are in favour of the reunification of the Sculptures.

"Dialogue is a good thing, it is something that needs to be done about the Sculptures. I don't think there is any point in continuing to bury our heads in the sand," he says, clarifying that he refers to the attitude of the British government, which claims that the repatriation of ancient Greek treasures "is not up for discussion" and refers to the British Museum, which, however, agrees to consider only the possibility of lending them to Greece.

"I understand the issues related to history. I understand the issues that arise that relate to politics. I also understand the issues related to diplomacy and all the other issues that arise," says 51-year-old Kahn.

"But," he adds, "I don't see why the British government and the British Museum cannot start a discussion with the Greek government on the future of the Parthenon Sculptures." He did not, however, want to reveal whether he was in favour of their permanent reunification.

To read the article in Ta Nea, follow the link here (there is a paywall).

On 21 July the Huffpost ran their exclusive story on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, agreeing with George Osborne, that a deal should be done with Greece to find a way of sharing the 'Elgin Marbles'.

Mayor Khan called on the British Museum, UK government and Greek government to work together to “make progress” in this cultural dispute.

To read this article, follow the link here.

The story was also published in the Metro, with Sadiq Khan favouring the idea of artefacts, not just from Greece but from all over the world, shared by the British Museum.

The British Museum has always prided itself in the fact that its exhibits 'tell the story of cultural achievement throughout the world, from prehistory to present day'. It urges visitors to re-examine cultural identities and explore the connections between them. The Parthenon sculptures are 'an important representation of the culture of Ancient Athens' and the British Museum does not wish to return them to Greece as they wish to continue to provide visitors with 'insights into how ancient Greece influenced and was influenced by other civilisations it encountered, especially Egypt, Persia and Rome'. 

And yet the story, the next chapter of the sculptures from the Parthenon, the 21st century story, post the opening of the Acropolis Museum is told on this superlative museum's top floor, the Parthenon Gallery. For it here, that Greece can offer the world, the one place on earth where it is possible to have a single and aesthetic experience simultaneously of the Parthenon and its sculptures.

"The arguments against their return to Greece are no longer tenable," argues art historian and museum professional Eleni Vassilika, as she writes in The Art Newspaper. 

"International human rights, improved by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), acknowledge a community’s right to its cultural patrimony. Greece was recognised as an independent nation in 1832 and made repeated early requests for the return of the Marbles; its Archaeological Service was created in 1835. The arguments against the return of the Marbles are no longer tenable. Since 2009 the spectacular Acropolis Museum with its direct sightline of the Parthenon, contextualises the sculptural decoration in a way that the BM never can. Just as Sutton Hoo represents English cultural patrimony, so too the Parthenon Marbles represent the cultural patrimony of Greece. Precision copies may reliably replace the originals in the Duveen gallery." Concludes Eleni Vassilika

To read the article in full, kindly visit The Art Newspaper .

• Eleni Vassilika was the keeper of antiquities, Fitzwilliam Museum (1990-2000); director and chief executive of the Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum (2000-05); and director, Museo Egizio di Torino (2005-14)

Paul Scully, Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for London, was interviewed by Yannis Andritsopoulos, UK Correspondent for Ta Nea, and calls for dialogue to begin on the continued division of the Parthenon Sculptures.

The UK Minister called for a "mature discussion" on the matter.

This is the first time that a member of the Conservative Government has called for dialogue to be initiated in order to find a solution to an issue that has been pending since 1816,  and since the time when British Parliament bought the ancient Greek artifacts from Lord Elgin, who had previously removed them from the Parthenon.

To this day, the UK Government claims that "the Parthenon Sculptures were legally acquired and belong to the British Museum", while it recently "refuted" UNESCO's ICPRCP decision for intergovernmental dialogue on the issue.

"Recently I was lucky enough to see the Parthenon Sculptures up close. It was a real privilege. I fully understand the issue that has arisen," commented Paul Scully .

Clarifying that, from his portfolio, "I am not in the right department to take decisions on this issue", he stressed: "I hope that we will be able to ensure that there will be a mature discussion on the Sculptures". He added: "This is a discussion that the Foreign Minister should have with her Greek counterpart."

The 54-year-old Minister (holds an autonomous portfolio that does not come under another ministry) noted that "the Parthenon Sculptures, wherever they are, exist for the whole world", implying that he would hardly support their permanent return to Greece. "I hope that we will all be able to learn the history, heritage and the past of these sculptures", he added.

Yannis Andritsopoulos asked him what kind of solution could emerge from the dialogue he proposes to take place between Greece and Britain, and MP Scully replied: "We do not want this issue to be the subject of a division between the two countries. The wonderful Parthenon Sculptures are amazing in terms of their history and everything they represent", he tells me, praising the culture and history of Ancient Greece.

"I'll tell you something: I've been guiding people around the British Parliament all the time. When I tour Americans and talk to them about Westminster Hall, which is almost 1,000 years old, they are in awe. When I say this to Greek visitors, they just shrugg their shoulders. You see, it's not that ancient  whencompared to the ancients of Greece."

He then addresses the Greek Cypriot community in Britain: "Greeks and Cypriots contribute so much to our economy and society. They are highly educated and always hard workinf. They are welcome in London and across the country."

ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE. Referring to the Cyprus problem, the British minister called on Ankara to do more in order to find a solution.

"I urge Turkey to find a constructive approach and a way forward for the negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus' division. It definitely has to do this. Quite simply, we cannot continue with the stagnation that has been observed for so many decades, which is causing tensions between the two countries," Paul Scully stressed.

He added: "We absolutely must end the partition. We have to listen, to learn, to understand what is happening in Cyprus. The Foreign Ministry has been supporting the efforts from the very beginning. But members can also be active. It is important that they learn the story and then share it with their colleagues in parliament. Their experience can contribute to decision-making and pressure from Britain. We must work together with Turkey and Greece in order to find a solution that leads to a meaningful reunification."

To read the article in Ta Nea, follow the link here .

BCRPM also notes the breakthrough decision negotiated by the Greek team, after the initiatve of the representative of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This decision adopted by UNESCO's ICPRCP is an excellent example of the preparation invested by Greece in the continued efforts to find a solutuon to the unecessary division of the Parthenon sculptures. Just two weeks ago a celebration of the 13th anniversary of the Acropolis Museum was organised by BCRPM and Greeks in the UK, at the British Museum. Victoria Hislop, Professor Edith Hall, George Gabriel and Marlen Godwin, members of BCRPM joined Avgoustinos Galiassos  and supporters to ask that the Parthenon Marbles be reunited in Athens.