The new director of the British Museum, Nicholas Cullinan, spoke about the museum’s renovation and modernization efforts, the Parthenon Marbles, and last year’s scandal involving missing antiquities, in an interview with the Financial Times.

The possible return to Greece of the Parthenon Marbles, has become a “political hot potato”, according to the report, especially since UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy  went public with her support for repatriation reforms that might require changes to the law forbidding national museums from deaccessioning the objects in their care.

“Plans are taking shape . . . a principle is the first thing to establish for yourself, and in a conversation to have with your partner. I’d like to talk more about a partnership rather than debating ownership,” said Cullinan.

Finally, commenting on the criticism directed at museums regarding violently acquired objects, he said “there’s a problem of perception versus reality in museums.” 

“The perception is that sometimes conversations will be very difficult, and it’s not possible to find common ground, and that’s really not the case. With good faith and a lot of listening, conversations can begin.”