Earlier this month the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that it will be removing the Sackler family name from its galleries.
This decision was mutually agreed upon by the Met and the descendants of Dr. Mortimer Sackler and Dr. Raymond Sackler. The Sacklers founded the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma which produced drugs, such as OxyContin, linked to the opioid crisis. The Sackler family and the museum agreed that this decision allows the museum to further its core mission.
A total of seven exhibition spaces throughout the Met hold the Sackler name. One of the Sackler galleries houses the Temple of Dendur, an ancient Egyptian temple.
In a statement descendants of the Sackers said, “Our families have always strongly supported The Met, and we believe this to be in the best interest of the Museum and the important mission that it serves. The earliest of these gifts were made almost fifty years ago, and now we are passing the torch to others who might wish to step forward to support the Museum.”