British Museum suggests ‘sharing arrangement’ of Parthenon Marbles with Greece

The Chairman of the British Museum, George Osborne, said on Wednesday that there is a “deal to be done” over sharing the Parthenon Marbles with Greece.

During an interview with LBC radio station, Osborne said he would support an arrangement where the sculptures were shared between London and Athens.

When asked whether the British Museum could “move some of [the marbles] to Greece at last for a while, and then back to London,” Osborne replied, “I cannot speak for all the trustees [of the British Museum], but I think such an arrangement would work.”

READ MORE: Greece to step up pressure for Parthenon Marbles amid signs of changing views in UK.

“A deal is to be done where we can tell both stories in Athens and in London if we both approach this without a load of preconditions, without a load of red lines…

“Sensible people could arrange something that makes the most of the Parthenon marbles but if either side says there’s no give at all, then there won’t be a deal.”

The Parthenon Marbles have long been a source of friction between Greek governments and the Museum, where they have been on display since 1816 after they were ripped off the Parthenon by Lord Elgin.

READ MORE: Australians being urged to join fight for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

READ MORE: Greece and the UK agree to hold formal talks on possible return of the Parthenon Marbles.

This latest statement in the debate comes as Greek communities and classicists from across the UK are gathering at the British Museum on June 18 to call for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.

The protest, organised by the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, also marks the 13th anniversary of the opening of the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

READ MORE: Greece rebuts British Museum claim that Parthenon Marbles were ‘removed from rubble’.