GERMANY??s chancellor has personally approached the talented Scot who runs Britain??s leading museum for a top post in the arts world in her country, it has been reported.
GERMANY??s chancellor has personally approached the talented Scot who runs Britain??s leading museum for a top post in the arts world in her country, it has been reported.
Angela Merkel wants to recruit Glasgow-born Neil MacGregor to head the Humboldt Forum, an ambitious cultural complex under construction in Berlin.
Mr MacGregor, who speaks fluent German, is currently director of the British Museum in London, a position he has held since 2002.
Last week his decision to allow part of the Elgin Marbles to go on loan to the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia, provoked a furious response from Greece, which lays claim to the ancient sculptures removed from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin 200 years ago.
The Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras, who is fighting for the return of the marbles to Athens, called the loan ??an affront?? to Greek people. Mr MacGregor has long argued the marbles are best looked after in London.
Mr MacGregor has a considerable reputation as a communicator which he has used to present radio and television programmes.
He was also the driving force behind the British Museum??s current exhibition Germany: memories of a nation. He wrote the book that complements the show and narrated an accompanying 30-episode Radio 4 series.
One claim yesterday said a meeting had taken place between Ms Merkel and Mr MacGregor in Germany.
Mr MacGregor, who is still in St Petersburg overseeing the marbles?? loan said: ??I have been advising the Humboldt for two or three years.??
Asked specifically about a job offer and talks with Merkel, he added: ??I cannot comment. At the moment I am entirely happy at the BM.??
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