British Museum Considers Charge for Tour Groups

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

British Museum Considers Charging Tour Groups | The British Museum is considering levying a charge for commercial tour operators, The Sunday Times reported yesterday. Aside from a brief period of charging in the 1970s, the museum has been free to visitors since it opened in 1759. Should the fee be imposed, there are fears it will set a precedent for other major institutions.

Sculpture Looted by Nazis Returned to Poland | The Goddess of hunting has been hunted down. A bust of Diana looted from Warsaw’s Royal Lazienki Palace during the Second World War has been returned to the Polish government. The bust, sculpted by Jean-Antoine Houdon in the late 18th century, was identified when it came up for sale at a Viennese auction house. It will be returned to the palace in a ceremony next month.

Hiker Discovers Viking Sword in Norway | With every cloud of acid rain, a silver lining? A hiker in the frozen south of Norway has discovered an ‘unusually well-preserved’ Viking sword that is thought to date from 750AD, reports The Art Newspaper. The find has led to speculation that warmer temperatures caused by global warming in the region may lead to similar archaeological discoveries.

Rubin Museum Appoints New Director of Exhibitions | New York’s Rubin Museum of Art has named Jorrit A.M. Britschgi as its new director of exhibitions, collections, and research, reports Artforum. Britschgi, who is currently head of exhibitions at Zürich’s Museum Rietberg, will take up the new role next March.

Brinsley Ford Collection to go on Show at Basildon Park | More than 60 works of art once owned by collector Brinsley Ford are to go on display at Basildon Park in Berkshire, reports The Guardian. The collection, which includes works by Tiepolo, Augustus John and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, will be on display at the National Trust property as part of a five-year loan.