Kris Tytgat is the Chairperson for the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures (IARPS), and also Chair of the Belgian Committee for this worthy cause. Following the development over the last two weeks and post UNESCO's ICPRCP 23 session in Paris (18-20 May, 2022), Kris has written an opinion article, feaured in Ta Nea today.

Kris Tytgat concludes in her overview of the long running case of the division of the Parthenon Marbles, mainly between London's British Mueum and Athens' Acropolis Museum, with the following sentences: 

Under the increasing pressure to return the Parthenon Sculptures and the absence of international support for its stand, the U.K showed a lack of a consistent coherent policy this week. By criticizing and not respecting the ICPRCP’s procedures one may also ask why the U.K. has still a representative in the UNESCO’s Committee?

To read Kris Tytgat's article in full, and in English, follow the link here.

Catherine Bennett wrote in the Guardian on Saturday, 28 May 2022, asking that question: 'Why shouldn't the Greeks have their marvle back?' The subheading goes on to state: the 'antiquated excuses for keeping the sculptures divided are wearing thin after 12 years of Conservative cultural freezes.' Catherine Bennet goes on to remind us of Byron and his disgust at Lord Elgin's pilage of the Parthenon at the turn of the 19th century. This segues to Lord Pakinson.

We heard Lord Parkinson speaking on this subject for the first time, in February this year. Lord Dubs made his plea for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles in the House of Lords on 08 February at 15:10 in the afternoon. Lord Parkinson's reply was simply the same old, well rehearsed lines. And it isn't surprising that in her article, Catherine Bennett adds: "following renewed Greek attempts to repatriate the Parthenon marbles, Parkinson is now responsible for the government’s response, possibly in future talks. As under-secretary of state for arts in the DCMS he has already, as demonstrated in a recent debate, committed to the old arguments for keeping the sculptures, regardless of majority British opinion, and endorsed the museum’s claim, disreputable even at the time, that Elgin acted lawfully. “The Parthenon sculptures were acquired by the late noble earl, Lord Elgin, legally,” he recites, “with the consent of the then Ottoman empire.”

Catherine then remembers Oliver Dowden and his suggestion to institutions to 'retain and explain'. The shortfall with this instruction in the case of the Parthenon Marbles is that the British Museum avoids telling visitors the whole story. Who can question such an August, British institution?

Janet Suzman handing out flyers, 'Tell the Story',  outside the British Museum, on  20 June 2021, the 12th anniversary of the Acropolis Museum.

The retain is effortless, as the British Museum are the keepers of the fragmented sculptures in Room 18 and that can continue forever as far as the Trustees and Director the British Museum are concerned, and many, such as Lord Parkinson in the British government too.

Lord Parkinson is not the only person that is relunctant to recognise the significance of reuniting these sculptures, so that the surviving pieces can be seen together and in relation to the Parthenon, which still stands. However, the reasons given by the UK and the British Museum for not engaging in talks will not put a stop to the continued  request for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. A heartfelt request that will never subside and is supported by most nations, and most right thinking folks in the UK and elsewhere throughout the globe.

To read Catherine Bennett's article in full, follow the link here.

The Acropolis Museum's, top floor, glass-walled, Parthenon Gallery, is the one place on earth where it is possible to have a single and aesthetic experience simultaneously of the Parthenon and its sculptures.

Yannis Andritsopoulos, UK correspondent wrote his article in Ta Nea outlining Wednesday 18 May's session at the ICPRCP. Below the statement from the DCMS published in that article:

“The UK has a longstanding position on this issue that has not changed - the Parthenon Sculptures were acquired legally in accordance with the law at the time. The British Museum operates independently of the government and free from political interference. All decisions relating to collections are taken by the Museum's trustees.”

"There has been no change to the UK's position on the Parthenon Sculptures and no change to the nature of our formal engagement with Greece on the issue."

Below, a statement sent to Yannis Andritsopoulos by the British Museum and published in Ta Nea on 20 May 2022:

The British Museum can confirm that no new talks with the Greek government have taken place or are planned regarding the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures.

We have always enjoyed a positive and collaborative relationship with UNESCO and with colleagues from institutions all around the world – including the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The Museum is always willing to consider requests to borrow any objects from the collection, we lend between 4000 – 5000 objects every year. For instance, 170 ancient Hellenic objects are touring Australia and New Zealand where they will reach and inspire new audiences before returning to the Museum.

These beautiful works of art are loved by a world-wide community and we believe that public access should lie at the heart of these conversations, too often discussions are limited to legalistic and adversarial context instead of focusing on how to share the sculptures with a wider world.

The role of a modern museum is to provide a place where these objects spark creativity and help people understand the past, shape the present and prepare for the future. We have always believed that these works help visitors embrace that vision.

The ancient city-state of Athens was one of the Eastern Mediterranean's leading nations, a cultural and military powerhouse that rivalled mighty Persia. Millions of visitors to the British Museum benefit from a permanent collection that captures this vast arc of history that has had a lasting impact on the emergence of the modern world.

Deepening public access, creating new ways and opportunities for collections to be shared and understood right across the world, remains at the core of what the British Museum seeks to achieve.

On Monday 23 May, Yannis Andritsopoulos contacted the DCMS once more and reported in Ta Nea on Tuesday 24 May 2022:

The British government made a 180-degree turn for the Parthenon Sculptures yesterday, following the tactic of "I said that I would – now I’ve changed my mind"(«είπα - ξείπα») regarding the possibility of talks with Greece.

Speaking to the "Ta Nea", the representatives of Downing Street and the British Culture Minister denied that a meeting is planned on the return of the Sculptures, just six days after UNESCO announced that London had agreed to engage in dialogue.

What is striking, however, is that they made it clear for the first time that they do not intend to change the law prohibiting the British Museum from ceding objects from its collection, which would pave the way for the return of the masterpieces.

"The UK government has not agreed to hold formal talks on the Parthenon Sculptures," Culture Minister Nadine Dorries' spokeswoman told Ta Nea.

This assertion is certainly not accurate: last Tuesday, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee on the Return of Cultural Goods (ICPRCP) announced that the British Government had proposed holding a meeting between Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and the British Secretary of State for Culture Lord Parkinson's. Greece accepted the proposal and the meeting "will be set in due course", noted UNESCO, which last September had called on Britain "to engage in a bona fide dialogue with Greece", acknowledging that "the obligation to return the Sculptures clearly lies with the British government".

"We are always willing to discuss cultural cooperation issues with our Greek colleagues. However, the Parthenon Sculptures belong to the British Museum, which operates independently of the government," the British ministry spokesman added, regurgitating the well-known rote: "So this is a matter for the Museum's Trustees. The UK's long-standing position on this issue has not changed."

DOWNING STREET. More impressive is the statement of a Downing Street official in the "Ta Nea" that the possibility of amending the legislation, which would be a "key" for the repatriation of ancient Greek treasures, is not being considered.

"The British Museum is prohibited by law from granting objects. We do not intend to change the law in question." This is the first time that a British government official has explicitly ruled out the possibility of a legislative initiative on the Sculptures.

Last January, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had said he was "confident that Boris Johnson will not block any potential future deal, removing any possible political stumbling block, if necessary, even amending British museum law".

As is well known, the British Museum Act of 1963 prohibits the return of artefacts, unless they are copies of objects already in the collection or if they are deemed "unsuitable". If the law were to be amended by the British Parliament, the return of the Sculptures could become a reality.

With their new statement to "Ta Nea", the Britain has made it eloquently clear that not only (supposedly) they cannot but also do not want to reunite the Sculptures.

"There has been no change in our position on the Parthenon Sculptures and no change in the nature of our official communication with Greece on the subject. The British Museum's trustees believe that the Sculptures should remain in their collection," the official concluded.

Ioanna Niaoti for #NaMaste, a radio programme on Saturday 21 May 2022, reflects on the impasse of the continued division of the Parthenon sculptures.

Available on Hellenic Broadcasting, this Second Program can be heard on 103.7. This station celebrates 70 years of broadcasting this year.

Ioanna invited BCRPM to speak about the ongoing plight of the Parrthenon marbles on her programme. Key questions were:

1. Since the last announcement from UNESCO there have been expectations, but the British government states that its attitude has not changed. There is also no date yet for the meeting between Greece's Culture  Minister, Mendoni andLord Parkinson (DCMS),  how do you see this development? Or is it not really a development because the British side anyway argues that the issue should be discussed with the British Museum.
2.  At the same time, the British Museum is not changing its position either, so the debate and the situation, remains exactly the same as it has been for the last decades ad centuries......
   

3. The British Museum leaves open the option of a loan, which of course is not  accept ed by the Greek side, we have heard proposals for 3d prints (but who will undertake to do these) what steps does the committee think can realistically be taken?

4. Could a British government, which believed in the reunification of the sculptures, possibly encourage even "push" the BM in this direction? Because we see that in politics as well - there were British politicians who supported the argument when they were not in positions of power, but also former directors of the British Museum.

BCRPM replied that:

• It was shocking to see the lack of respect shown for UNESCO's ICPRCP, its process, decisions and recommendations. The proposed meeting between Minister Mendoni and Lord Parkinson no sooner had it been proposed then it was cancelled as the UK had already stated bot h the BM's position and the UK Government support: that the Parthenon Marbles are legally owned and cannot be deaccessed.The reality is simply that the UK, both in its museum and government, is not prepared to reunite the surviving Parthenon Marbles. The BM insists that the story told in London is enjoyed by millions of visitors and provides an insight into how ancient Greece influenced  other civilisations, whereas in Athens they continue to tell the story of ancient Athens. Two stories, one peerless collection. 
• It tragically remains the same and looks set to continue to do so. This request will never go away and British stubborness will not stop the tide already turning. More and more museums are ensuring that their exhibits can relate to their visitors and their expectations. Telling the story does matter. The story told in Room 18 is as old as the start of the 19th century and is never going to be sufficiently engaging to 21st century museum goers. This isn't about erasing history but recounting it truthfully and having sufficient respect for the Parthenon, which stands. It is about allowing a new chapter for the surviving sculptures, to be rereunited in the Acropolis Museum.
• A loan is okay so long as it can be in perpetuity, look at what the Museum in Palermo has managed to achieve with the Fagan fragment. Professor Stampolidis was so excited to make this announcement at UNESCO's ICPRCP 23rd session in Paris this week.And after all the BM refers to these marbles as the Parthenon sculptures, so surely they continue to belong to the Parthenon. The 3D reproductions is not something that BCRPM can fund as we have no funding but  it is an option and pursued by those that have access to the funds needed. 
• Tragically the British government at the moment will never have the vision to embrace a magnanimous gesture and yes you are right that there are those such as Ed Vaizey that when they were in government could not support this issue but now, no longer part of the DCMS, Lord Vaizey has said that on balance he supports the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. We have hope and continue to campaign: where there is a will, there is always a way. 

To listen to the interview in Greek, kindly follow the link (the segment starts at 15:20 minutes ino the programme):  

https://webradio.ert.gr/deytero-programma/namaste-deftero-savvato-21-ma%ce%90ou-2022/

23 May 2022, London, Thanasis Gavos for Skaigr

"Great shock" said Michael Wood, a renown British historian as he grappled with the "false" claim of the British Museum that most of the Parthenon Sculptures located in London were collected by Lord Elgin's associates not from the monument, but "from the rubble".

This argument was made by the Deputy Director of the British Museum Jonathan Williams at UNESCO's the intergovernmental commission's 23 session on the Promotion of the Return of Cultural Property last week in Paris.

Speaking to SKAI Mr. Wood, Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester and one of the newest members of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM), clarified: "It is clearly clear that most of the marbles that Elgin took were taken from the monument. You cannot tour the British Museum today looking at them and thinking that these marbles fell from 40 feet in the rubble. The greatest of the damage they suffered was in their removal by Elgin and his envoy, the Italian Lusieri."

The professor known through television histories to the British professor continued: "We have eyewitnesses who describe the forcible removal of the foreheads, the frieze. Even Lusieri himself admitted that he had to resort to becoming a 'little barbarian', as he put it, to get the pieces of the frieze, cutting the back with saws to make them lighter to be transported. So it is outrageous to claim that most of the sculptures were not on the monument."

Mr Williams' argument provoked a reaction from Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, who in a statement to the Guardian newspaper referred, among other things, to the "blatant theft" by Elgin.

The honorary President of the BCRPM Professor Anthony Snowgrass commented speaking to SKAI that the argument for rescuing sculptures from the rubble is not entirely new, but has now been formulated to an exaggerated degree. In any case, he added, it does not change the substance of the issue and the Greek request.

On the British Museum's argument for the legal acquisition of the Sculptures, which Mr. Williams insisted on at the UNESCO conference, Michael Wood noted: "In the year 2022 such arguments do not convince most people at all. Whether they were acquired legally is a very controversial point, there is very little evidence of this. In any case, how can he (Elgin) legally acquire them from an occupying power?

"The question on which we should keep our minds is not these meticulous arguments about whether it was legal, whether this sculpture was on the ground or not, but what is the right thing to do in this case. All over the world now these demands for reparations and for the repatriation of things looted by European powers in the era of imperialism are becoming a very big issue. The time has now come for these Sculptures to be reunited in the Acropolis Museum."

At the same time, Mr. Wood highlighted the importance of the moral argument about a single artistic creation that must be united to the greatest extent possible. "There are also fragments in the Vatican, in the Louvre, in Copenhagen, in Würzburg. Everything should be returned to Athens and the Marbles should be reunited.

As for the British Museum, he stressed that it could replace the Parthenon Sculptures with other "fascinating" masterpieces offered by the Greek government.

"Moreover, the return of the Parthenon Marbles would be a great, magnanimous gesture from the British to the Greeks, which most Britons support, according to the polls," Michael Wood concluded.

Source: skai.gr

Paris Wednesday 18 May 2022, International Museum Day and the 23rd session of UNESCO's ICPRCP.

Two presentations: Greece and United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland on the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. Watch the presentation with this link: 23rd session of the ICPRCP - YouTube, at 3:20:02.

Artemis Papathanassiou, Senior Legal Advisor at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Professor Stampolidis, the Director General of the Acropolis Museum provided a factual and well thought out presentation.

The UK's presentation was a tale of two halves. Helen Whitehouse from the DCMS outlined the strong ties between Greece and the UK but was concerned that the recommendation and decision made at the previous session of UNESCO's ICPRCP in September 2021, had 'abused the process and that the inaccuracies reported in the media needed to be addressed'. Jonathan Williams of the British Museum, certainly added to the worry that more excuses can still be added as to why the Parthenon Marbles may never be reunited. Jonathan explained that most of what is displayed in Room 18 was not forcibly removed from the Parthenon but taken from the rubble. The saddest part of his enthusiastic speech, was when he exclaimed that 'there can never be a magic moment for the reunification of the sculptures' simply because half have been lost in the history of the Parthenon, spanning over a period of more than 2,500. He didgraciously, praised Greece on the restoration of the Parthenon.

With so many countries representated, and supporting Greece, the UK looked out of step with the pressing request for dialogueon on this matter. And many countries remarked, that over the 40 years that this issue has been discussed at UNESCO, they hoped that the UK would find a way to  discuss this with Greece, in such a way as to find a way forward. 

Professor Anthony Snodgrass, Hon President of this committee listened to Jonathan Williams' presentation today and added: "the  generalisation, about what proportion of the sculptures was already 'on the ground', is impossible to quantify or even substantiate, as there was little in the way of documentary record from the time.  The major exception is that of the metopes removed from the South side of the Parthenon (Lusieri's first target), where we do have the horrified accounts of Dodwell, Clarke and other visitors on the irreparable damage to the building from which they were in the process of being violently detached.

The frieze is a different matter, because the best evidence is what we can still see today, in the shape of the sawn-off blocks in the British Museum.  To reduce the weight for transport, Lusieri had the back of most blocks sawn across and discarded, so as keep intact just the sculpted face. Professor Pandermalis was able to recover, from the Acropolis stone collection, one of these rejected half-thickness backings, which many will have seen in the Acropolis Museum. In itself, this does not mean that every​ block had first to be lowered from its place on the upper part of the building;  but the state of preservation of the vast majority of the British Museum slabs is enough to show that they had not fallen from 40 feet above, but had been carefully detached and lowered, to be sawn on the ground.  The shortage of contemporary documentation of the frieze explains why William St.Clair's treatment of it is so brief. But look at Christopher Hitchens's 2008 edition, page 26 and bottom of page 33, for the ironical fact that we depend on a former Keeper of Greek and Roman at the British Museum (A.H.Smith) for the fullest account of the whole process.

The pediment figures are a different story again, as several of them, being free-standing statues, had indeed fallen to the ground, in or after the 1687 explosion;  but the British Museum has the lion's share of what survives (Christopher Hitchens pp.124-5). So, all in all, it's not correct to say that much of what Elgin took was already on the ground.

Yannis Andritsopoulos, UK correspondent wrote his article in today's Ta Nea outlining yesterday's session at the ICPRCP. Below the statement from the DCMS published in that article:

“The UK has a longstanding position on this issue that has not changed - the Parthenon Sculptures were acquired legally in accordance with the law at the time. The British Museum operates independently of the government and free from political interference. All decisions relating to collections are taken by the Museum's trustees.”

"There has been no change to the UK's position on the Parthenon Sculptures and no change to the nature of our formal engagement with Greece on the issue."

And below, a statement sent today by the British Museum to Yannis, for Ta Nea:

The British Museum can confirm that no new talks with the Greek government have taken place or are planned regarding the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures.

We have always enjoyed a positive and collaborative relationship with UNESCO and with colleagues from institutions all around the world – including the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The Museum is always willing to consider requests to borrow any objects from the collection, we lend between 4000 – 5000 objects every year. For instance, 170 ancient Hellenic objects are touring Australia and New Zealand where they will reach and inspire new audiences before returning to the Museum.

These beautiful works of art are loved by a world-wide community and we believe that public access should lie at the heart of these conversations, too often discussions are limited to legalistic and adversarial context instead of focusing on how to share the sculptures with a wider world.

The role of a modern museum is to provide a place where these objects spark creativity and help people understand the past, shape the present and prepare for the future. We have always believed that these works help visitors embrace that vision.

The ancient city-state of Athens was one of the Eastern Mediterranean's leading nations, a cultural and military powerhouse that rivalled mighty Persia. Millions of visitors to the British Museum benefit from a permanent collection that captures this vast arc of history that has had a lasting impact on the emergence of the modern world.

Deepening public access, creating new ways and opportunities for collections to be shared and understood right across the world, remains at the core of what the British Museum seeks to achieve.