Former UK Chancellor George Osborne Appointed British Museum Chair Starting September 1

George Osborne, the former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer who implemented significant arts funding reductions during his tenure from 2010 to 2016, has been selected as the new Chair of the British Museum's board of trustees. His appointment begins on September 1, succeeding Richard Lambert, the previous Financial Times editor. Osborne expressed enthusiasm for the role, describing the institution as the world's greatest museum and emphasizing its mission to unite cultures through shared human stories. During his time as finance minister, Osborne oversaw a 30% cut to England's arts budget. Since leaving government, he has served as editor of London's Evening Standard and currently holds a partnership position at investment firm Robey Warshaw. Museum director Hartwig Fischer welcomed the appointment, noting Osborne's familiarity with the institution and his understanding of its role in national recovery efforts through collection accessibility both onsite and online. The British Museum's global reputation and educational outreach were highlighted as key factors in the selection.