Mark Jones (museum director)

Sir Mark Jones
FSA FRSE
Black and white portrait of 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
(1951-02-05) 5 February 1951
Spouse(s) Camilla Toulmin
Children Three
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]

Early life

Jones was born on 5 February 1951.[2] He is the son of writer and historian, Ann Paludan. 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.

Career

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. 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.

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.[4] Under his directorship a number of renewal projects have been completed, including the Medieval and Renaissance galleries which opened in 2009.[5]

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.[6] He retired from the post in September 2016, and was succeeded by Carole Souter.[7]

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.

Personal life

He is married to Dr 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.

Honours

Insignia of a Knight Bachelor

References

  1. ↑ St Cross College, Oxford: New Master elected. 08 November 2016
  2. 1 2 "Sir Mark Jones". People of Today. Debrett's. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  3. ↑ "Sir Mark Jones". St Cross College. University of Oxford. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Museums set dates for free entry". BBC News. 1 May 2001. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "Victoria and Albert Museum: Completed FuturePlan projects". Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Sir Mark Jones elected Master of St Cross College University of Oxford news 18 November 2010.
  7. ↑ St Cross College Elects New Master
  8. ↑ "Sir Mark E P Jones Kt FSA". Fellows Directory. Society of Antiquaries of London. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "RSE Fellows as at 13/10/2015" (pdf). Royal Society of Edinburgh. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59282. p. 1. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
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