British Museum director steps down abruptly

author: FutureCar Staff    

British Museum director Hartwig Fischer has announced his immediate resignation following alleged thefts from the institution. Last week, it was revealed that items from the museum's collection were found to be missing, stolen, or damaged, prompting a police investigation.

In a statement, Mr Fischer acknowledged that the museum did not respond adequately to warnings in 2021 about stolen artifacts. He stated, "The responsibility for that failure must ultimately rest with the director." He also expressed regret for his earlier remarks about Dr. Gradel and offered his resignation to the chairman of the trustees.

Mr Fischer emphasized the seriousness of the situation facing the museum and his belief that it will emerge stronger. However, he concluded that his presence was becoming a distraction and decided to step down. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the British Museum and praised the talented and dedicated public servants he worked with during his tenure.

The museum had previously dismissed a senior curator after nearly 2,000 artifacts worth millions of pounds were believed to have been stolen. Mr Fischer, who had planned to step down next year, defended the museum's investigation in 2021 but later faced criticism for his comments about Dr. Gradel. Dr. Gradel accepted Mr. Fischer's apology and agreed that his resignation was the right thing to do.

George Osborne, the chairman of the museum's trustees, accepted Mr. Fischer's resignation and commended him for confronting the mistakes that were made. Osborne emphasized the importance of restoring confidence in the museum and learning from the situation.

In addition to the thefts, Peter John Higgs was accused of stealing and damaging items from the museum's collection. Mr. Higgs was dismissed, and an independent review of security was launched. The Metropolitan Police's economic crime command is also investigating the matter, although no arrests have been made at this time.

The British Museum will now focus on addressing the issues, learning from the mistakes, and regaining its reputation as a respected institution.

FutureCar Staff