Peter Thiel's Private Bayeux Tapestry Viewing at British Museum Raises Concerns

On August 18, a private VIP viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry took place at the British Museum for Peter Thiel, co-founder of Palantir, as reported by the Guardian. The museum chose not to provide any comments in response to an inquiry from Hyperallergic. It is uncertain if Thiel was included in a larger group allowed to see the 11th-century tapestry prior to its public opening on September 10. Some staff expressed confusion, noting that Thiel has not previously made donations to the museum, either personally or through his companies. There were worries that this exclusive viewing could restrict public access to the artifact, given the museum's need to control light exposure to prevent damage. The museum's director of development reportedly arranged the visit, while board chair George Osborne did not attend or meet with Thiel. A select few private viewings have been provided to various stakeholders during the exhibition gallery's construction.