The British Museum in China

New UK cultural engagement in China – The British Museum and the V&A in historic partnerships with museums across China

Tuesday 6 September 2005

The British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) both announce today an unprecedented programme of collaboration with museums across China. Initiatives unveiled by both museums will enable objects from their unparalleled world collections to be seen in China and for masterpieces of Chinese culture to be loaned to the UK. It will also involve curatorial exchanges, skills sharing and joint projects which will benefit the museums and their audiences in both countries.

The British Museum has today signed an historic agreement with the National Museum of China in Beijing, the first cultural agreement between a British institution and the National Museum of China. Neil MacGregor, the Director of the British Museum who is accompanying the Prime Minister Tony Blair’s delegation to Beijing, signed the agreement with Pan Zhenzhou, vice-minister of Culture and the Director of the National Museum of China in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier Wen. It will guarantee a significant programme of collaboration between the British Museum and its Chinese counterparts. The first fruits of the agreement will be a series of loan exhibitions on world cultures not currently represented in museums in China, which will run from 2008 onwards.

Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum said “I am delighted to announce the signing of this historic memorandum which will cement an important partnership between the British Museum and the National Museum of China. The British Museum is committed to sharing its exceptional world collection with the world and this agreement will also allow many in China to explore other civilisations and ensure that the audience in London can appreciate the cultural achievements of China.