Michael Squire begins his term as Director of the Museum of Classical Archaeology
Michael Squire, Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology, Senior Research Fellow of Trinity College, and Chair of the Management Committee of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, took over as Director of the Museum of Classical Archaeology on 1 October 2026.
Michael has long been interested in museums and classical heritage, and curated a show on 'The Classical Now’ across Bush House and Somerset House in London in 2018. He was elected Fellow of the British Academy in 2022 (where he sits across sections for Art History, Classics and Archaeology); his book, How to Describe a Painting: Philostratus and Art Criticism in the Graeco-Roman World, co-written with Jaś Elsner, was published by CUP in 2026.
Michael says, ‘I’m looking forward to working with others to consolidate and develop the profile of the Museum over the next three years. The history of the collection stretches back almost one and a half centuries: today, the Museum of Classical Archaeology is a cherished part of the Faculty of Classics, playing a key role in our access and outreach work; but it’s also part of the larger University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden network, connecting our research with communities locally, nationally and internationally. For all the current challenges in the sector, the curator Dr Susanne Turner and I are hugely excited about what the future holds – thanks in large part to my predecessor Prof Caroline Vout's pioneering work over the last six years.'
Michael will provide strategic leadership, and support for the Museum’s research, teaching and public engagement activities over the next 3 years.
The Museum of Classical Archaeology, founded in 1884, is home to one of the finest collections of plaster casts of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture in the world. The Cast Gallery exhibits over 450 casts, taking visitors on a tour of Greek and Roman art and culture from the 7th century BCE through to the 3rd century CE. In addition, visitors learn about the practice of classical archaeology, about restoration, and about the history of collecting ancient sculpture. The Museum is also home to a large collection of sherds, epigraphic squeezes and ancient objects.
