Resignation and Reinstatement in the Museum World

Last summer saw a significant event in the museum world as Hartwig Fischer stepped down from his role as the director of the British Museum. This decision came shortly after the museum dismissed a curator suspected of looting gems from its storerooms.

Less than a year later, Fischer makes a comeback in the museum scene. The Saudi Museums Commission recently announced his appointment as the founding director of its upcoming museum of world cultures set to open in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2026. Fischer, a German art historian, was chosen for his “global expertise in leading international cultural institutions and museums,” as stated in the commission’s news release.

Fischer, aged 61, previously held leadership positions at the State Art Collections of Dresden before taking on the directorship of the British Museum in 2016. At the British Museum, Fischer oversaw a collection of renowned artifacts, including the Parthenon Sculptures and the Rosetta Stone, until his tenure faced turbulence in August last year.

During this tumultuous period, the museum announced the dismissal of a curator from its Greek and Roman antiquities department on suspicion of theft. Fischer expressed his determination to address the issues within the museum; however, subsequent revelations cast doubts on his leadership.

In later developments, The New York Times and the BBC shed light on emails revealing Fischer’s dismissal of concerns raised by Ittai Gradel, an antiquities dealer based in Denmark, regarding potential thefts.