LONDON.- On 25 June 2014, the Korean Cultural Centre UK, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, and the British Museum signed an agreement that establishes a new three-year post for a full-time Curator of Korean Collections at the Museum.

The agreement establishes a Curatorial Grant from the “Korean Art Gallery Aid Program for Overseas Museums” designed by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to support the invaluable overseas work of Museums with Korean galleries and collections. This three-year grant will allow the British Museum to recruit a full-time Korean specialist to curate the Korean collections and assist in shaping, planning, and delivering the Museum’s Korea-themed programmes in relation to the Korea Foundation Gallery. It is the first grant of this nature to be awarded.

His Excellency Ambassador Sungnam Lim and Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, exchanged copies of the agreement at a ceremony. The British Museum plans to recruit a specialist curator by the end of 2014 whose academic work will solely focus upon the development of the Korean collections at the British Museum. The new curator will expand awareness of the Korean collections and the Korea Foundation Gallery through multiple media, including online and print publications, lectures, and gallery talks, as well as working with both Korean and UK institutions to generate new knowledge and forums for sharing research. This post will allow the British Museum to more fully advance interest in and understanding of Korean culture for the British public, Koreans in London and the international Museum audience. The post is an exciting new addition to the Museum that will ensure more research and greater exposure for Korea in the museum and public sectors. Jan Stuart, the Keeper of the Department of Asia, said, “The partnership between the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom created by the support of the government of Korea provides a critical asset for the British Museum and an innovative paradigm for cultural organizations dedicated to enhancing cultural exchanges with other countries.”