In a new poll for Policy Exchange, we asked the public a series of questions related to museums and artefacts. The full tables are available here.
Selected media coverage
Museums often lend artefacts (such as archaeological objects) to be exhibited in other countries. What do you think should be the maximum length of time for which an artefact is loaned to another country?
|
Unweighted |
Weighted |
3 months |
6 months |
1 year |
2 years |
3 years |
No maximum length |
Prefer not to say |
Don’t know |
Total |
| Overall |
| National |
1101 |
1101 |
4% |
6% |
20% |
7% |
4% |
20% |
5% |
35% |
100% |
| Gender |
| Female |
561 |
548 |
4% |
7% |
18% |
8% |
3% |
15% |
7% |
39% |
100% |
| Male |
540 |
553 |
4% |
5% |
22% |
7% |
4% |
24% |
3% |
31% |
100% |
| Age |
| 18-24 |
114 |
117 |
8% |
5% |
14% |
5% |
4% |
21% |
11% |
31% |
100% |
| 25-49 |
478 |
454 |
3% |
5% |
14% |
7% |
4% |
21% |
7% |
41% |
100% |
| 50-64 |
274 |
270 |
4% |
4% |
25% |
9% |
5% |
18% |
3% |
32% |
100% |
| 65+ |
235 |
260 |
3% |
10% |
27% |
8% |
2% |
19% |
2% |
29% |
100% |
| SEG |
| AB |
250 |
258 |
3% |
5% |
20% |
10% |
4% |
22% |
5% |
30% |
100% |
| C1 |
342 |
339 |
4% |
7% |
22% |
7% |
4% |
23% |
2% |
32% |
100% |
| C2 |
233 |
233 |
2% |
3% |
20% |
7% |
5% |
17% |
6% |
39% |
100% |
| DE |
276 |
271 |
4% |
8% |
18% |
7% |
3% |
15% |
7% |
39% |
100% |
| Region |
| London |
132 |
159 |
4% |
6% |
17% |
7% |
4% |
26% |
4% |
31% |
100% |
| Midlands/Wales |
339 |
303 |
4% |
5% |
20% |
9% |
5% |
17% |
4% |
36% |
100% |
| North |
271 |
279 |
3% |
5% |
20% |
7% |
3% |
19% |
6% |
37% |
100% |
| Rest of South |
263 |
263 |
5% |
9% |
21% |
6% |
3% |
20% |
6% |
30% |
100% |
| Scotland |
96 |
97 |
– |
4% |
22% |
7% |
1% |
17% |
5% |
44% |
100% |
| 2019 General Election |
| Conservative Party |
326 |
338 |
3% |
7% |
25% |
8% |
3% |
20% |
4% |
30% |
100% |
| Labour Party |
238 |
239 |
2% |
6% |
19% |
6% |
4% |
26% |
3% |
33% |
100% |
| Liberal Democrats |
87 |
90 |
2% |
7% |
20% |
9% |
6% |
23% |
2% |
30% |
100% |
| 2016 Brexit referendum |
| Leave |
413 |
417 |
4% |
7% |
23% |
7% |
3% |
19% |
4% |
33% |
100% |
| Remain |
385 |
397 |
4% |
4% |
21% |
8% |
4% |
24% |
2% |
32% |
100% |
Which of the following factors do you think are most important when deciding where artefacts of historic importance should be displayed? [Choose up to three]
|
Unweighted |
Weighted |
They should be freely open to the public. |
They should be in the location that will allow the greatest number of people to see them. |
They should be in the institution best able to display them in an educational way. |
They should be in the institution most likely to preserve them for the long term. |
They should remain where they are currently, and have been for a long time. |
They should be in an institution belonging to the ethnic or national grouping which originally created them. |
They should be in the institution which first excavated or legally purchased them. |
None of the above |
Prefer not to say |
| Overall |
| National |
1101 |
1101 |
33% |
22% |
22% |
26% |
6% |
21% |
8% |
8% |
21% |
| Gender |
| Female |
561 |
548 |
24% |
19% |
21% |
25% |
6% |
22% |
7% |
9% |
25% |
| Male |
540 |
553 |
42% |
26% |
23% |
27% |
5% |
20% |
9% |
8% |
17% |
| Age |
| 18-24 |
114 |
117 |
25% |
16% |
21% |
30% |
11% |
31% |
13% |
11% |
18% |
| 25-49 |
478 |
454 |
28% |
15% |
21% |
25% |
5% |
22% |
6% |
11% |
26% |
| 50-64 |
274 |
270 |
38% |
26% |
19% |
29% |
5% |
18% |
11% |
7% |
18% |
| 65+ |
235 |
260 |
40% |
34% |
27% |
25% |
5% |
18% |
8% |
3% |
16% |
| SEG |
| AB |
250 |
258 |
39% |
26% |
23% |
28% |
6% |
28% |
9% |
4% |
22% |
| C1 |
342 |
339 |
35% |
24% |
25% |
25% |
5% |
25% |
8% |
9% |
17% |
| C2 |
233 |
233 |
31% |
20% |
20% |
28% |
6% |
15% |
8% |
9% |
24% |
| DE |
276 |
271 |
27% |
20% |
18% |
24% |
5% |
16% |
8% |
11% |
22% |
| Region |
| London |
132 |
159 |
33% |
28% |
25% |
32% |
6% |
28% |
10% |
3% |
20% |
| Midlands/Wales |
339 |
303 |
35% |
20% |
24% |
27% |
7% |
19% |
7% |
9% |
20% |
| North |
271 |
279 |
34% |
23% |
19% |
21% |
4% |
19% |
7% |
12% |
21% |
| Rest of South |
263 |
263 |
32% |
24% |
22% |
27% |
5% |
19% |
8% |
8% |
21% |
| Scotland |
96 |
97 |
29% |
16% |
19% |
25% |
5% |
31% |
13% |
8% |
23% |
| 2019 General Election |
| Conservative Party |
326 |
338 |
36% |
31% |
23% |
31% |
7% |
12% |
11% |
5% |
18% |
| Labour Party |
238 |
239 |
37% |
22% |
24% |
27% |
5% |
32% |
8% |
7% |
17% |
| Liberal Democrats |
87 |
90 |
46% |
33% |
26% |
31% |
2% |
33% |
9% |
3% |
16% |
| 2016 Brexit referendum |
| Leave |
413 |
417 |
35% |
28% |
23% |
30% |
7% |
12% |
10% |
8% |
19% |
| Remain |
385 |
397 |
40% |
23% |
24% |
27% |
4% |
33% |
8% |
5% |
17% |
Please indicate if you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Important artefacts which are held in a major museum outside their country of origin should be given up by that museum and sent permanently to a museum in their country of origin.”
|
Unweighted |
Weighted |
Strongly agree |
Somewhat agree |
Somewhat disagree |
Strongly disagree |
Prefer not to say |
Don’t know |
Total |
| Overall |
| National |
1101 |
1101 |
14% |
25% |
14% |
9% |
13% |
27% |
100% |
| Gender |
| Female |
561 |
548 |
13% |
24% |
11% |
6% |
15% |
30% |
100% |
| Male |
540 |
553 |
15% |
25% |
16% |
11% |
10% |
23% |
100% |
| Age |
| 18-24 |
114 |
117 |
17% |
25% |
11% |
9% |
18% |
19% |
100% |
| 25-49 |
478 |
454 |
11% |
25% |
10% |
6% |
17% |
30% |
100% |
| 50-64 |
274 |
270 |
16% |
24% |
13% |
10% |
8% |
28% |
100% |
| 65+ |
235 |
260 |
16% |
24% |
21% |
10% |
7% |
22% |
100% |
| SEG |
| AB |
250 |
258 |
14% |
27% |
18% |
8% |
13% |
20% |
100% |
| C1 |
342 |
339 |
13% |
27% |
14% |
10% |
9% |
28% |
100% |
| C2 |
233 |
233 |
14% |
23% |
11% |
7% |
13% |
31% |
100% |
| DE |
276 |
271 |
16% |
21% |
11% |
9% |
16% |
27% |
100% |
| Region |
| London |
132 |
159 |
13% |
32% |
15% |
8% |
10% |
22% |
100% |
| Midlands/Wales |
339 |
303 |
15% |
25% |
14% |
8% |
12% |
27% |
100% |
| North |
271 |
279 |
15% |
20% |
13% |
9% |
13% |
30% |
100% |
| Rest of South |
263 |
263 |
10% |
26% |
14% |
10% |
15% |
26% |
100% |
| Scotland |
96 |
97 |
25% |
23% |
12% |
6% |
10% |
23% |
100% |
| 2019 General Election |
| Conservative Party |
326 |
338 |
10% |
24% |
20% |
15% |
8% |
24% |
100% |
| Labour Party |
238 |
239 |
18% |
31% |
13% |
4% |
10% |
24% |
100% |
| Liberal Democrats |
87 |
90 |
13% |
31% |
14% |
8% |
11% |
22% |
100% |
| 2016 Brexit referendum |
| Leave |
413 |
417 |
9% |
25% |
16% |
13% |
10% |
27% |
100% |
| Remain |
385 |
397 |
19% |
28% |
14% |
6% |
9% |
23% |
100% |
Please indicate if you agree or disagree with the following statement: “The British Museum should loan items to a country even if that country does not accept that the British Museum owns the item in question.”
|
Unweighted |
Weighted |
Strongly agree |
Somewhat agree |
Somewhat disagree |
Strongly disagree |
Prefer not to say |
Don’t know |
Total |
| Overall |
| National |
1101 |
1101 |
7% |
15% |
15% |
19% |
11% |
33% |
100% |
| Gender |
| Female |
561 |
548 |
7% |
13% |
16% |
15% |
13% |
37% |
100% |
| Male |
540 |
553 |
7% |
16% |
15% |
23% |
9% |
29% |
100% |
| Age |
| 18-24 |
114 |
117 |
14% |
12% |
16% |
15% |
15% |
28% |
100% |
| 25-49 |
478 |
454 |
7% |
14% |
10% |
15% |
14% |
39% |
100% |
| 50-64 |
274 |
270 |
5% |
15% |
19% |
23% |
8% |
30% |
100% |
| 65+ |
235 |
260 |
6% |
15% |
20% |
24% |
8% |
27% |
100% |
| SEG |
| AB |
250 |
258 |
10% |
18% |
15% |
15% |
12% |
30% |
100% |
| C1 |
342 |
339 |
8% |
16% |
15% |
19% |
8% |
34% |
100% |
| C2 |
233 |
233 |
4% |
13% |
17% |
21% |
12% |
33% |
100% |
| DE |
276 |
271 |
6% |
10% |
14% |
21% |
15% |
33% |
100% |
| Region |
| London |
132 |
159 |
10% |
19% |
18% |
15% |
10% |
28% |
100% |
| Midlands/Wales |
339 |
303 |
6% |
12% |
16% |
20% |
10% |
35% |
100% |
| North |
271 |
279 |
7% |
14% |
15% |
20% |
10% |
34% |
100% |
| Rest of South |
263 |
263 |
5% |
15% |
15% |
21% |
13% |
31% |
100% |
| Scotland |
96 |
97 |
10% |
16% |
9% |
16% |
12% |
36% |
100% |
| 2019 General Election |
| Conservative Party |
326 |
338 |
4% |
11% |
21% |
30% |
8% |
26% |
100% |
| Labour Party |
238 |
239 |
11% |
23% |
14% |
9% |
9% |
34% |
100% |
| Liberal Democrats |
87 |
90 |
7% |
17% |
22% |
12% |
13% |
29% |
100% |
| 2016 Brexit referendum |
| Leave |
413 |
417 |
4% |
12% |
20% |
30% |
8% |
27% |
100% |
| Remain |
385 |
397 |
12% |
20% |
14% |
11% |
10% |
34% |
100% |
The Elgin Marbles are a collection of ancient Greek sculptures and architectural details in the British Museum. If the Elgin Marbles were sent to Greece on loan, do you think it likely or unlikely that they would be returned to London at the end of the loan period?
|
Unweighted |
Weighted |
Very likely |
Somewhat likely |
Somewhat unlikely |
Very unlikely |
Prefer not to say |
Don’t know |
Total |
| Overall |
| National |
1101 |
1101 |
4% |
7% |
21% |
25% |
10% |
31% |
100% |
| Gender |
| Female |
561 |
548 |
3% |
8% |
21% |
19% |
12% |
37% |
100% |
| Male |
540 |
553 |
6% |
7% |
21% |
32% |
9% |
25% |
100% |
| Age |
| 18-24 |
114 |
117 |
4% |
12% |
25% |
15% |
16% |
28% |
100% |
| 25-49 |
478 |
454 |
3% |
8% |
19% |
18% |
13% |
39% |
100% |
| 50-64 |
274 |
270 |
6% |
6% |
18% |
33% |
8% |
29% |
100% |
| 65+ |
235 |
260 |
6% |
6% |
26% |
36% |
5% |
21% |
100% |
| SEG |
| AB |
250 |
258 |
3% |
8% |
25% |
23% |
12% |
28% |
100% |
| C1 |
342 |
339 |
3% |
8% |
24% |
26% |
7% |
31% |
100% |
| C2 |
233 |
233 |
5% |
4% |
21% |
28% |
11% |
30% |
100% |
| DE |
276 |
271 |
6% |
8% |
14% |
25% |
13% |
34% |
100% |
| Region |
| London |
132 |
159 |
3% |
11% |
23% |
29% |
8% |
26% |
100% |
| Midlands/Wales |
339 |
303 |
3% |
8% |
21% |
27% |
10% |
31% |
100% |
| North |
271 |
279 |
6% |
5% |
18% |
25% |
11% |
34% |
100% |
| Rest of South |
263 |
263 |
4% |
7% |
23% |
25% |
13% |
29% |
100% |
| Scotland |
96 |
97 |
5% |
7% |
26% |
19% |
9% |
33% |
100% |
| 2019 General Election |
| Conservative Party |
326 |
338 |
6% |
5% |
22% |
36% |
7% |
25% |
100% |
| Labour Party |
238 |
239 |
3% |
11% |
23% |
22% |
9% |
33% |
100% |
| Liberal Democrats |
87 |
90 |
2% |
2% |
41% |
24% |
10% |
20% |
100% |
| 2016 Brexit referendum |
| Leave |
413 |
417 |
5% |
6% |
18% |
34% |
7% |
30% |
100% |
| Remain |
385 |
397 |
3% |
9% |
27% |
24% |
8% |
29% |
100% |
If the Elgin Marbles were to return to Greece, how likely do you think it is that it would encourage further returns of other important artefacts to their countries of origin?
|
Unweighted |
Weighted |
Very likely |
Fairly likely |
Fairly unlikely |
Very unlikely |
Prefer not to say |
Don’t know |
Total |
| Overall |
| National |
1101 |
1101 |
17% |
30% |
7% |
6% |
11% |
29% |
100% |
| Gender |
| Female |
561 |
548 |
15% |
28% |
7% |
4% |
12% |
34% |
100% |
| Male |
540 |
553 |
18% |
33% |
7% |
8% |
10% |
25% |
100% |
| Age |
| 18-24 |
114 |
117 |
20% |
30% |
5% |
7% |
16% |
22% |
100% |
| 25-49 |
478 |
454 |
14% |
29% |
7% |
3% |
15% |
33% |
100% |
| 50-64 |
274 |
270 |
19% |
30% |
6% |
6% |
7% |
32% |
100% |
| 65+ |
235 |
260 |
17% |
34% |
8% |
10% |
7% |
24% |
100% |
| SEG |
| AB |
250 |
258 |
20% |
35% |
6% |
5% |
13% |
21% |
100% |
| C1 |
342 |
339 |
18% |
32% |
8% |
5% |
7% |
30% |
100% |
| C2 |
233 |
233 |
14% |
25% |
9% |
8% |
11% |
34% |
100% |
| DE |
276 |
271 |
13% |
29% |
5% |
5% |
15% |
33% |
100% |
| Region |
| London |
132 |
159 |
25% |
38% |
7% |
3% |
8% |
19% |
100% |
| Midlands/Wales |
339 |
303 |
17% |
28% |
7% |
7% |
10% |
31% |
100% |
| North |
271 |
279 |
14% |
24% |
8% |
6% |
12% |
36% |
100% |
| Rest of South |
263 |
263 |
13% |
35% |
5% |
5% |
14% |
28% |
100% |
| Scotland |
96 |
97 |
17% |
30% |
8% |
7% |
8% |
29% |
100% |
| 2019 General Election |
| Conservative Party |
326 |
338 |
17% |
32% |
9% |
8% |
7% |
28% |
100% |
| Labour Party |
238 |
239 |
20% |
34% |
7% |
4% |
9% |
25% |
100% |
| Liberal Democrats |
87 |
90 |
15% |
44% |
5% |
5% |
10% |
21% |
100% |
| 2016 Brexit referendum |
| Leave |
413 |
417 |
15% |
29% |
9% |
8% |
7% |
32% |
100% |
| Remain |
385 |
397 |
22% |
37% |
6% |
4% |
8% |
22% |
100% |
How significant a factor should the risk of damage to an artefact be when the British Museum considers sending artefacts overseas?
|
Unweighted |
Weighted |
Very significant |
Somewhat significant |
Neither significant nor insignificant |
Somewhat insignificant |
Very insignificant |
Prefer not to say |
Don’t know |
Total |
| Overall |
| National |
1101 |
1101 |
41% |
18% |
5% |
4% |
2% |
11% |
20% |
100% |
| Gender |
| Female |
561 |
548 |
37% |
20% |
4% |
3% |
1% |
12% |
23% |
100% |
| Male |
540 |
553 |
45% |
17% |
5% |
5% |
2% |
9% |
17% |
100% |
| Age |
| 18-24 |
114 |
117 |
34% |
23% |
3% |
7% |
– |
17% |
16% |
100% |
| 25-49 |
478 |
454 |
35% |
18% |
4% |
4% |
1% |
14% |
23% |
100% |
| 50-64 |
274 |
270 |
45% |
19% |
5% |
2% |
2% |
7% |
20% |
100% |
| 65+ |
235 |
260 |
50% |
16% |
6% |
3% |
3% |
6% |
16% |
100% |
| SEG |
| AB |
250 |
258 |
42% |
19% |
4% |
7% |
2% |
12% |
14% |
100% |
| C1 |
342 |
339 |
44% |
20% |
5% |
3% |
2% |
8% |
18% |
100% |
| C2 |
233 |
233 |
39% |
18% |
4% |
1% |
3% |
12% |
23% |
100% |
| DE |
276 |
271 |
36% |
17% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
12% |
25% |
100% |
| Region |
| London |
132 |
159 |
49% |
17% |
7% |
5% |
1% |
8% |
14% |
100% |
| Midlands/Wales |
339 |
303 |
42% |
19% |
4% |
4% |
2% |
10% |
20% |
100% |
| North |
271 |
279 |
38% |
16% |
5% |
4% |
2% |
11% |
25% |
100% |
| Rest of South |
263 |
263 |
42% |
19% |
3% |
3% |
2% |
13% |
18% |
100% |
| Scotland |
96 |
97 |
30% |
26% |
7% |
3% |
2% |
9% |
22% |
100% |
| 2019 General Election |
| Conservative Party |
326 |
338 |
52% |
15% |
4% |
2% |
2% |
8% |
16% |
100% |
| Labour Party |
238 |
239 |
37% |
25% |
5% |
4% |
2% |
8% |
19% |
100% |
| Liberal Democrats |
87 |
90 |
48% |
15% |
9% |
7% |
2% |
10% |
9% |
100% |
| 2016 Brexit referendum |
| Leave |
413 |
417 |
49% |
15% |
4% |
3% |
2% |
7% |
20% |
100% |
| Remain |
385 |
397 |
40% |
23% |
7% |
6% |
2% |
8% |
16% |
100% |
Details
- Client: Policy Exchange
- Fieldwork Period: February 23, 2023
- Sampling Method: Online
- Population Sampled: All adults (18+) in Great Britain
- Sample Size: 1,101
- Data Collection: The data is acquired from a panel provider offering participants the chance to win money. The sampling relies on an online quota approach. Specifically, participants are sampled to meet Office of National Statistics quotas for gender, age, region, socio-economic group, vote in the 2019 general election, and vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum. No criteria are used to over- or undersample respondents. To ensure the polling is representative of the target population, we use official and reliable data sources to match the sample to demographic population targets.
- Weighting: The sample has been weighted to be representative of the population on the following variables: gender, age, socio-economic group, region, vote in the 2019 General Elections and 2016 Brexit referendum vote.
