Mark Jones (museum director)
Encyclopedia
Sir Mark Ellis Powell Jones (born 5 February 1951) is a British art historian, numismatist
and museum director; he is director of the Victoria and Albert Museum
. Jones is the current Master of Saint Cross College, Oxford.
Son of the writer and historian Ann Paludan
, Jones read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Worcester College, Oxford
, before taking an MA
degree in art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art
. He 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. 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. Since May 2001 Jones has been director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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
.
Jones was knighted
in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to the arts.
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
and museum director; he is director of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
. Jones is the current Master of Saint Cross College, Oxford.
Son of the writer and historian Ann Paludan
Ann Paludan
Ann Paludan is a British author of several books on Chinese history, sculpture, and architecture.-Biography:Ann Paludan is the daughter of Basil Murray...
, Jones read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
, before taking an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art
Courtauld Institute of Art
The Courtauld Institute of Art is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art. The Courtauld is one of the premier centres for the teaching of art history in the world; it was the only History of Art department in the UK to be awarded a top...
. He spent 18 years in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, where he curated the acclaimed exhibition FAKE? The Art of Deception. In 1992 he was appointed director of the National Museums of Scotland
National Museums of Scotland
National Museums Scotland is the organization that runs several national museums of Scotland. It is one of the country's National Collections, and holds internationally important collections of natural sciences, decorative arts, world cultures, science and technology, and Scottish history and...
, 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
Stirling Prize
The Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize is a British prize for excellence in architecture. It is named after the architect James Stirling, organised and awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects...
nomination for its building. Since May 2001 Jones has been director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Jones is Chairman of the National Museum Directors’ Conference, a trustee of the National Trust
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
, the Gilbert Collection, and the Pilgrim Trust, a member of the Court and Council of the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
, Vice President of the British Art Medal Society and the Kensington & Chelsea Decorative & Fine Arts Society, and a patron of the Embroiderers' Guild
Embroiderers' Guild (United Kingdom)
The Embroiderers' Guild is the UK's leading educational charity promoting embroidery. From its centre in Walton on Thames, and around the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, the Guild works to celebrate and preserve embroidery's rich heritage, and to secure its living future as contemporary art and...
and the Heritage Crafts Association
Heritage Crafts Association
The Heritage Crafts Association is a registered UK charity set up to support and promote traditional crafts. The stated aims are"The Heritage Crafts Association is the advocacy body for traditional heritage crafts...
.
Jones was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to the arts.
External links
- Mark Jones, Director — Victoria and Albert Museum. Accessed August 1, 2007