in-cyprus 25 October 2025
The British Museum has been accused of “provocative indifference” by Greek officials after hosting a star-studded fundraising gala where guests dined near the Parthenon marbles.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni condemned the museum following the inaugural pink ball, where celebrities including Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell and Alexa Chung paid £2,000 each to attend.
“The safety, integrity and ethics of the monuments should be the main concern of the British Museum… once again it is exhibiting provocative indifference,” Mendoni said, arguing that the event raised serious ethical questions.
The gala, which raised over £2.5 million for the museum, featured a drinks reception in the Great Court before dinner was served within view of the fifth-century BCE carvings in the Duveen Gallery.
Greek Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis rebuked the museum for deciding to “cover Greek culture in the shade of Barbie” while criticising the “provocative use” of the sculptures as a “tourist attraction”.
“At a time when the Parthenon sculptures, born in Athens 2,500 years ago, are patiently awaiting their return to the homeland… the British Museum lays out provocative, lavish tables in the Duveen Gallery with our sculptures as a backdrop,” he said.
Nikolaos Stampolidis, general director of the Acropolis Museum, called the event “tasteless” and said it provided further proof that the masterpieces needed to be reunited in Athens, where the upper gallery of his museum was custom-built to display the sculptures within view of the Parthenon.
The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive time amid ongoing efforts to resolve the long-standing cultural dispute. Greece has campaigned for decades for the reunification of the artworks with other pieces that once adorned the Parthenon.
The sculptures were removed by Lord Elgin, England’s ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, more than 200 years ago. After becoming bankrupt, Elgin sold them to the British government in 1816.
The British Museum declined to comment on the controversy.
