Greece has accused the British Museum of “provocative indifference” after it hosted a star-studded fundraising gala with guests seated near the Parthenon marbles. The event, described as “covering Greek culture in the shade of Barbie” by Greek officials, raised more than £2.5 million for the museum.
Lina Mendoni, Greece’s culture minister, criticised the museum for its “provocative indifference” to treasures that represent the pinnacle of classical Western art. She questioned the ethics of holding a lavish dinner steps away from the antiquities, stating that “the safety, integrity and ethics of the monuments should be the main concern of the British Museum”.
The gala, attended by celebrities including Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell and Alexa Chung, featured a drinks reception in the Great Court followed by dinner in the Duveen Gallery, within view of the fifth-century BCE carvings. A silent auction was also held.
Greek officials expressed outrage, with Nikitas Kaklamanis, speaker of the Greek parliament, rebuking the museum for its “provocative use” of the sculptures as a “tourist attraction”. He deplored the “cynical” goal of raising money for the museum’s own benefit while the sculptures await their return to Greece.
The Parthenon marbles were removed from Athens by Lord Elgin, Britain’s ambassador to the Ottoman empire, over 200 years ago and later sold to the British government. Greece has long campaigned for their reunification with other pieces from the Parthenon.
Nikolaos Stampolidis, director of the Acropolis Museum, said the “tasteless” episode proved the masterpieces need to be reunited in their place of origin. The event has brought relations between the museum and Greece to a new low amid ongoing efforts to resolve the cultural dispute.
