British Museum rejects government meddling in Director appointment
PLUS: all the latest global museum news
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This edition features: National Gallery | York Castle Museum | Richard Serra
Happy Friday.
David Beckham, Taylor Swift and Naomi Campbell. What do they have in common?
(Trust me there’s a museum point!)
David Beckham’s recent Netflix documentary was promoted as a ‘candid’ look at his career. Yet it was made by his own production company and produced by his PR rep. Everything in it was tightly controlled — down to his “cosy knits” according to the Telegraph.
Taylor Swift was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year and gave a rare interview that boasted ‘candid’ quotes. Yet — as an excellent New Statesman article on the death of the celebrity profile explained — it was “anticlimactic” with no new revelations, and written by a journalist who wasn’t empowered to critique the image Swift wanted to project. Likely, because the ‘unspoken’ understanding was that Swift only agreed to it knowing it would be positive.
Which leads me to Naomi Campbell — and her upcoming show at the V&A.
A few editions ago I highlighted that the show’s curator had said that “It’s not for us to tell Naomi’s story, we want her to tell her story.” And I’ve continued to think about what this means. And what visitors actually expect.
I’m inclined to think that museum exhibitions are one of an ever-shrinking list of mediums where people activity want a subject filtered through a third party’s critical eye. For Beckham and Swift fans, that ship has sailed. ‘Authenticity’ is prized, even when it’s so highly curated as to be anything but.
While the Campbell retrospective certainly lives or dies on the cooperation of its star subject (and biggest lender), it just seems a real shame — not to mention ironic — that museums might be handing over the curatorial gloves too.
I think the ‘unspoken’ understanding with visitors is that an interrogation of a subject is part of why they’ve parted with their cash. Netflix and Time might have lost their ability to be candid, but it doesn’t mean museums shouldn’t hold out for the fight.
— maxwell
ps do you agree??
— In partnership with Arts & Culture podcast
How to make a museum
Starting a museum from scratch is no easy task — especially when that museum aims to overcome taboo.
But Florence Schechter, the Director of the Vagina Museum, has achieved it.
Newly-located in a long-term home in East London, the venture has gone from Florence's initial idea to the world's first bricks-and-mortar museum dedicated to vaginas.
And in the latest episode of the Arts & Culture podcast, Florence explains how — and why.
The Arts & Culture podcast is by the Association for Cultural Enterprises, and each edition sees host Tom Dawson speak to professionals at museums, galleries and heritage sites to discover and share innovation, excellence and best practice.
This latest episode is for anyone who wants to harness the power of innovation and disruption.
Listen here, or where ever you get your podcasts.
Need To Know
BM vs PM
Four years after the UK government tried to block the appointment of Dame Mary Beard to the board of the British Museum, this week it was revealed that the Prime Minister also tried to interfere in the appointment of Nicholas Cullinan as the museum’s new Director.
Sources have told the Guardian that trustees on the selection panel were instructed by Downing Street to supply Rishi Sunak with two names, from which he, or his representative, would choose. This is not usual: the PM usually approves the single preferred candidate as a formality.
Chair George Osbourne — a former Conservative chancellor — rejected the demand.
Interim Director of the British Museum Sir Mark Jones — clearly feeling able to speak freely now his successor is lined up — said in response to the revelations that “There’s been an increasing politicisation of the nominations to the boards of museums and galleries.”
This does seem scandalous. But it’s perhaps not worth too much angry fury. As — in the words of PR guru Terri Coverley — “this lot look quite toasted.” (Read more)
🔗 OPINION | The BBC, Ofcom and now the British Museum – why do the Tories keep interfering in cultural appointments? | 💬 Charlotte Higgins in the Guardian
Court grants men art access
An art installation that excluded men from entering is discriminatory, an Australian court has ruled — and has ordered it to begin allowing access to “persons who do not identify as ladies.”
The court case over the Ladies Lounge work — which has been open since 2020 at Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) — came to a head this week. Mona and the artist Kirsha Kaechele had argued that men’s “experience of rejection is the artwork.” But the judge ruled their evidence “inconsistent” and that it was “not apparent how… [it] promotes opportunity for female artists.”
The judge also said the actions of Kaechele and 25 of her female supporters who attended court were “inappropriate, discourteous and disrespectful, and at worst contumelious and contemptuous.” They had engaged in discreet synchronised choreographed movements during the proceedings, and exited the tribunal to the Robert Palmer song Simply Irresistible.
Mona said they were “deeply disappointed by this decision.” (Read more)
Museum fires worker
A member of staff at Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne museum has been fired after secretly hanging one of his own art works on the gallery’s walls. Local media reported the 51 year-old did it in February "in the hope of achieving his artistic breakthrough."
The museum confirmed that the employee was a technician and that he was helping to install an architecture exhibit on philanthropy that opened recently, when he took a detour to the modern art floor to make the addition. He mounted the work outside opening hours.
He’s now also been banned from the site and police are investigating a complaint of "wilful damage to property" as the worker allegedly drilled two holes into a wall to hang his painting.
“He was carrying tools, that’s why he went totally unnoticed,” said Tine Nehler, a museum spokeswoman. “As a technician, he was able to move around all areas of the building outside of opening hours.” (Read more)
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News from the UK
Birthday 🎂 | Night-owl Jools Holland is to host the National Gallery’s very special birthday late next month. He’ll perform two concerts on the day too, marking the 200th anniversary of the gallery opening. And there’ll be a light show on the building’s facade that night. Holland said the gallery “has not only enchanted me but has also educated me” and that it was “a great honour.” (Read more)
🔗 INTERVIEW | Quiet, please! Jools Holland is making some noise at the National Gallery | The Times
Anger 😡 | “There should be more of an outcry” over York Castle Museum’s financial turmoil after the discovery of dangerous RAAC concrete, a local councillor has said. Cllr Jo Coles has blasted “the government’s failure to engage” over the “nationally significant museum[’s]” £400,000 deficit due to its sudden closure when the concrete was discovered. It is the only listed building to have RAAC. (Read more)
Millennium ⏰ | 2027 will mark ONE THOUSAND YEARS since William the Conquerer was born, and UK museums are being invited to mark the milestone with their French counterparts. An international programme will be held spanning countries with shared Norman heritage, including the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, southern Italy and Sicily. Britain’s Culture department and the regional council of Normandy wrote a letter calling out for support this week. (Read more)
Acquired 🙌 | Julian Opie's striking LED ‘walking figure’ that’s been seen outside Pitzhanger Manor since 2021 will now become a permanent feature after being successfully acquired by the West London museum. Back in October, Director Clare Gough told this newsletter they needed £25,000 to secure the piece. Cash ended up coming from Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and members of the public. (Read more)
Saved 🙏 | The last of 13 surviving green cab shelters providing rest and refreshment to generations of London’s taxi drivers has been listed by the government. More than 60 were originally built between 1875 and 1950. All now have Grade II-listed status on the advice of Historic England, who said they were “distinctive relics of the horse-drawn age.” (Read more)
News from around the world
France 🇫🇷 | A museum devoted to the beauty pageant Miss France will open on the French Riviera next year. Housed in a Belle Époque villa, the museum will show 100 costumes worn by contestants, winners’ crowns, shoes, paintings, photographs and footage of highlights from the pageant. Despite accusations the contest is outdated and sexist, it attracts millions of TV viewers, and the local mayor said they were happy to house a museum “of national and international interest”. (Read more)
Ghana 🇬🇭 | Some 32 objects of Asante Gold have officially returned to Ghana from the collections of the British Museum and the V&A and are expected to be handed over to the current Asante king today. The items — which were looted by the British during the 19th century — are on a long-term loan and will be displayed next month at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region. (Read more)
France 🇫🇷 | The death of sculptural icon Richard Serra last month has prompted Parisian officials to consider bringing Serra’s monumental work Clara-Clara out of the city’s storage for the first time in 16 years. First made for the French capital and installed in 1983, the 36m-long work has not been a permanent fixture for over 30 years. But the Deputy Mayor has said three locations “in the historic heart of Paris” have now been scouted. (Read more)
USA 🇺🇸 | The Oscars Museum — aka the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in LA — has revealed details of their first ever permanent exhibition, and it focuses on the Jewish pioneers of Hollywood. Titled Hollywoodland and opening in May it will spotlight “the impact of the predominately Jewish filmmakers” who “transformed LA into a global epicenter of cinema.” It comes after the museum was criticized since its 2021 opening for failing to acknowledge Jewish contributions. (Read more)
Best of the rest
Recommended | The UK’s Foreign Office — the government department for foreign affairs — should be replaced with one that has “fewer colonial-era pictures on the walls” according to a report. The PM disagreed. (More)
Milestone | Manchester Museum has recorded its one millionth visit this week, just over a year after its reopening after a £15 million revamp. The millionth visitors were a family from Liverpool. (More)
Quitting | The British Library’s leader Sir Roly Keating will be stepping down in April 2025 after 12 years as Chief Executive. He said his priority over his final 12 months would be the ongoing recovery from 2023’s cyber attack. (More)
Unofficial | The largest collection of original Banksy artworks have gone on display in London's Soho after a stint on Regent’s Street. The exhibition — not authorised by the artist — will be in its new home for a year. (More)
BREAKING | Staff at National Museums Liverpool have just announced 30 new days of strike action to follow the 8 week strike they are currently on. Its over the ongoing dispute over an unpaid cost-of-living payment. (More)
👀 Last week’s most read | Titian masterpiece once looted by Napoleon is a steal at £25m
👀 Missed Wednesday’s edition? | My Big Interview with the Director of Gibraltar’s first ever art museum
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