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A German will head the British Museum

September 29, 2015

The director of the prestigious British Museum Neil MacGregor is going to Berlin, and a German art expert, Hartwig Fischer, will replace him. He becomes the first foreigner to head the museum in 200 years.

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Museum director Hartwig Fischer, Copyright: Matthias Hiekel dpa/lsnKunstsammlungen Dresden
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Hiekel

Last April, Neil MacGregor announced he would be leaving the British Museum to lead the advisory board of the Humboldt Forum, in charge of the reconstruction of Berlin's City Palace.

The museum spent five months searching for his replacement. Neil MacGregor's connections with German cultural institutions could have contributed to finding his successor in Germany, as "The Times" reported on Friday.

The trustees have elected the German art historian Hartwig Fischer as MacGregor's successor, a decision which has now been approved by the prime minister, making it official. Fischer is currently the director general of the Dresden State Art Collections. He is expected to take on his new position in December. The Dresden State Art Collections didn't want to confirm the report to DW.

The British Museum is one of the most renowned museums in the world. It attracts about 6.7 million visitors every year. The last time a foreigner was in charge of the prestigious institution was in 1772.

eg/jb (dpa, "The Times")

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