China launches nationwide audit of museum collections amid corruption scandal
Chinese authorities have initiated a year-long campaign to audit state-owned museum artifacts following a major corruption scandal at the Nanjing Museum. The move aims to enhance transparency and improve the safeguarding of the country's cultural heritage.
Source Сaixinglobal
The investigation was triggered by the discovery of a 16th-century scroll painting titled 'Spring in Jiangnan,' which was auctioned for $12.5 million. According to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China, 29 people are implicated in the case, with 24 under formal investigation, including former museum director Xu Huping.
Five other individuals have since passed away, as the sale of this valuable artwork into private hands occurred back in the 1990s. The audit will cover all state museums across the country, instructing institutions to reconcile every exhibit with inventory records and address vulnerabilities in storage systems.
Furthermore, this campaign will form part of the second national census of movable cultural relics, aiming to better systematize data on the nation's heritage. This step is expected to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and ensure the preservation of cultural assets for future generations.
It is anticipated that the ongoing inventory will not only restore public confidence in the museum sector but also improve cultural heritage management practices throughout China.
