Reunite the Parthenon Marbles: A Call to Action for UK Voters

As the United Kingdom prepares for the general election on July 4, 2024, a significant cultural campaign concerning the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles is gaining momentum. The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM) urges UK voters to consider this important issue as they decide which party to support.

Since 1983, the BCRPM has been dedicated to reuniting the Parthenon Marbles, often mistakenly referred to as the “Elgin Marbles,” with their counterparts in Athens. These classical sculptures were removed from the Parthenon under highly questionable circumstances by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and have been housed in the British Museum ever since. The campaign maintains that these pieces are an integral part of Greece’s cultural heritage and should be returned to their rightful place. They belong in their intended context: the Acropolis Museum in Athens, purpose-built and opened to the public on June 20, 2009.

This upcoming general election presents a unique opportunity for UK citizens to play a key role in this ongoing debate. The BCRPM calls on voters to contact their Members of Parliament (MPs) and advocate for amending the Museum Act of 1963, which currently prevents the return of these cultural treasures. Changing this legislation would empower the Trustees of the British Museum to deaccession the Parthenon Marbles and return them to Athens – a move considered a moral and cultural imperative by supporters in the UK and around the world.

To facilitate this effort, the BCRPM has prepared a template letter for voters to personalize and send to their MPs. The letter highlights the cultural significance of the marbles and the positive impact their reunification would have on the long-standing ties between Greece and the United Kingdom. Voters are encouraged to add personal messages for a stronger impact.

You can download the template letter here: link https://www.parthenonuk.com/latest-news/889-uk-general-elections-and-supporting-the-reunification-of-the-parthenon-marbles

By encouraging constituents to contact their MPs, the BCRPM hopes to generate enough momentum to push for legislative changes and ultimately, the return of the Parthenon Marbles.