In a groundbreaking partnership with the BBC, the British Museum's A History of the World series is currently being broadcast on BBC Radio Four and the World Service. The series which tells a history of the world through a selection of 100 objects has received great critical acclaim and a record number of listeners. Recordings of the programs can be accessed at the museum's History of the World page.
The series which is written and narrated by the Director, Neil MacGregor, is possible only because of the rare blend of skills and knowledge represented by the Museum's unique community of experts. The objects in the series are able to 'speak' to us, because their stories have been uncovered by the teams of conservators and scientists, curators, anthropologists and archaeologists, whose years of combined research have contributed to an extraordinary body of knowledge about the collections of the British Museum.
The Museum's staff is as important as its objects. But for the first time in many years of institutional growth, the Museum's progress is seriously threatened by the expected cuts in the core funding it receives from Britain's central government. The grant currently provides 75% of the Museum's annual budget, the equivalent in the US of a major endowment. At worst, these cuts could mean the loss of some of our exceptional people.
For this reason the Director has recently launched a major fundraising campaign aimed at securing funds for Museum posts. All levels of contribution towards the annual salary of a curator, conservator or scientist are valued. It is also possible to name a specialist's post by covering its annual cost, which varies depending on seniority.
To find out more about supporting this important campaign please call the American Friends of the British Museum office at 212-812-4362, or contact the Administrator, Emily Grand.
