Sir Mark Jones | |
---|---|
5th Master of St Cross College, Oxford | |
In office September 2011 – September 2016 | |
Preceded by | Andrew Goudie |
Succeeded by | Carole Souter CBE |
14th Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum | |
In office May 2001 – September 2011 | |
Preceded by | Alan Borg |
Succeeded by | Martin Roth |
Personal details | |
Born | Mark Ellis Powell Jones 5 February 1951 |
Spouse | Camilla Toulmin |
Children | 4 |
Education | Eton College |
Alma mater |
Worcester College, Oxford Courtauld Institute of Art |
Awards |
FSA (1992) FRSE (1999) Knight Bachelor (2010) |
Sir Mark Ellis Powell Jones FSA FRSE (born 5 February 1951) is a British art historian, numismatist and museum director. He was Master of St Cross College, Oxford, from 2011-2016. Previously, from 2001 to 2011, he was director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. [1]
Jones was born on 5 February 1951. [2] He is the son of John Ernest Powell-Jones (or Powell-Jones) and writer/historian, Ann Paludan, and grand nephew of actor Robert Newton. He was educated at Eton College, an all-boys public school in Eton, Berkshire. [2]
He studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Worcester College, Oxford. [3] He then undertook postgraduate studies in art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree. [4]
Jones spent 18 years in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum, where he curated the acclaimed exhibition FAKE? The Art of Deception. [5]
In 1992, he was appointed director of the National Museums of Scotland, and here he gained a high reputation. He oversaw the creation in 1998 of the Museum of Scotland, which went on to win 22 prizes for its displays and a Stirling Prize nomination for its building. [6]
In May 2001, Jones became Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. On his first day as director, he announced the scrapping of entry charges to the museum. [7] Under his directorship, a number of renewal projects have been completed, including the Medieval and Renaissance galleries which opened in 2009. [8]
On 18 November 2010, it was announced that Jones had been elected as the next Master of St Cross College, Oxford; he took up the post in September 2011. [9] He retired from the post in September 2016, and was succeeded by Carole Souter. [10]
On 2 September 2023, it was announced that Jones had been named as Interim Director of the British Museum. [11]
Jones is Chairman of the National Museum Directors’ Conference, a trustee of the National Trust, the Gilbert Collection, and the Pilgrim Trust, a member of the Court and Council of the Royal College of Art, Vice President of the British Art Medal Society and the Kensington & Chelsea Decorative & Fine Arts Society, and a patron of the Embroiderers' Guild and the Heritage Crafts Association.[ citation needed]
He is married to Camilla Toulmin, the former director of the International Institute for Environment and Development. They have three children and Jones has a daughter from a previous marriage.[ citation needed]
Sir Mark Jones | |
---|---|
5th Master of St Cross College, Oxford | |
In office September 2011 – September 2016 | |
Preceded by | Andrew Goudie |
Succeeded by | Carole Souter CBE |
14th Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum | |
In office May 2001 – September 2011 | |
Preceded by | Alan Borg |
Succeeded by | Martin Roth |
Personal details | |
Born | Mark Ellis Powell Jones 5 February 1951 |
Spouse | Camilla Toulmin |
Children | 4 |
Education | Eton College |
Alma mater |
Worcester College, Oxford Courtauld Institute of Art |
Awards |
FSA (1992) FRSE (1999) Knight Bachelor (2010) |
Sir Mark Ellis Powell Jones FSA FRSE (born 5 February 1951) is a British art historian, numismatist and museum director. He was Master of St Cross College, Oxford, from 2011-2016. Previously, from 2001 to 2011, he was director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. [1]
Jones was born on 5 February 1951. [2] He is the son of John Ernest Powell-Jones (or Powell-Jones) and writer/historian, Ann Paludan, and grand nephew of actor Robert Newton. He was educated at Eton College, an all-boys public school in Eton, Berkshire. [2]
He studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Worcester College, Oxford. [3] He then undertook postgraduate studies in art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree. [4]
Jones spent 18 years in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum, where he curated the acclaimed exhibition FAKE? The Art of Deception. [5]
In 1992, he was appointed director of the National Museums of Scotland, and here he gained a high reputation. He oversaw the creation in 1998 of the Museum of Scotland, which went on to win 22 prizes for its displays and a Stirling Prize nomination for its building. [6]
In May 2001, Jones became Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. On his first day as director, he announced the scrapping of entry charges to the museum. [7] Under his directorship, a number of renewal projects have been completed, including the Medieval and Renaissance galleries which opened in 2009. [8]
On 18 November 2010, it was announced that Jones had been elected as the next Master of St Cross College, Oxford; he took up the post in September 2011. [9] He retired from the post in September 2016, and was succeeded by Carole Souter. [10]
On 2 September 2023, it was announced that Jones had been named as Interim Director of the British Museum. [11]
Jones is Chairman of the National Museum Directors’ Conference, a trustee of the National Trust, the Gilbert Collection, and the Pilgrim Trust, a member of the Court and Council of the Royal College of Art, Vice President of the British Art Medal Society and the Kensington & Chelsea Decorative & Fine Arts Society, and a patron of the Embroiderers' Guild and the Heritage Crafts Association.[ citation needed]
He is married to Camilla Toulmin, the former director of the International Institute for Environment and Development. They have three children and Jones has a daughter from a previous marriage.[ citation needed]