Tag Archives: Trustees

Proposals to Reform the British Museum Act Continue to Fall Under the Shadow of the Marbles

Posted on: March 25, 2024 by Charlotte Woodhead

The “legislative prison walls” of the British Museum Act In 2022, the then UK Prime Minister (the antepenultimate Prime Minister of recent times) responded to calls for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece by saying that it is for the trustees to decide. However, even if the trustees considered it appropriate to return […]

British Museum must recognise its own powers

Posted on: June 4, 2019 by Alexander Herman

The following commentary first appeared on The Art Newspaper website on 29 May 2019. The British Museum seems to enjoy telling the world about its statutory restrictions. Whenever would-be claimants approach the museum seeking restitution of an object from the collection, the almost mechanical response from the museum is that its trustees are prevented from doing so, […]

A new red line? Controversial gifts in the spotlight

Posted on: March 22, 2019 by Paul Stevenson

Last night, news broke that the Tate’s board of trustees have decided not to seek or accept further donations from the Sackler family. This comes hot on the heels of reports in the BBC and other outlets this week that the Sackler Trust has withdrawn a £1M ($1.3M) potential donation to the National Portrait Gallery. […]

UK and British Museum reject Marbles mediation request

Posted on: March 30, 2015 by Alexander Herman

With an end of March deadline looming, the UK government and the British Museum have at last responded to UNESCO’s request to enter into mediation with Greece regarding the future treatment of the Elgin (or Parthenon) Marbles. The request was made on 9 August 2013 at the behest of Greece (both the UK and Greece are members […]

Rauschenberg Trustees await verdict on $60 million claim

Posted on: August 13, 2014 by Zehrah Hasan

Three Trustees of the Rauschenberg Revocable Trust await a decision in Florida as to whether they should receive $60 million for their “extraordinary services” to the estate of the late painter and graphic artist Robert Rauschenberg. Bennet Grutman, Rauschenberg’s accountant, Darryl Pottorf, his companion and will executor, and Bill Goldston, his publishing partner in a […]

Power struggle between Coram and Foundling Museum ends in settlement

Posted on: August 6, 2014 by Zehrah Hasan

After a 2-year legal battle, a settlement was finalised in June 2014 between the Foundling Museum and the children’s charity Coram over the fate of the historic Foundling Hospital Art Collection and membership of the Museum’s board of Trustees. New articles of association were filed with the Charity Commission and Companies House on 26th June […]