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The British Museum has refuted claims that it has ended its commercial partnership with BP following reports that the institution had ended its 27-year relationship with the fossil fuel giant
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 08 Jun 2023
The highly-controversial partnership has been met with years-long public opposition, including public demonstrations by activist groups such as Culture Unstained and BP or not BP? Credit: Ron Fassbender
London’s British Museum has denied rumours that it has ended its commercial partnership with BP, after reports emerged that the cultural institution had terminated its 27-year relationship with the fossil fuel giant.
The news comes after activist group Culture Unstained revealed that documents obtained under the Freedom of Information act showed that the museum has no record of existing or future partnerships planned with BP, with the most recent commercial sponsorship agreement ending in February.
However, a spokesperson for the British Museum has since refuted these claims, telling Museums Journal that “no decisions about the future of the partnership have been taken.”
According to the documents, the two parties have a “verbal agreement” in which BP has until the end of the year to take advantage of the supporter benefits that the company was unable to use during the pandemic.
It’s not known whether any verbal agreements exist beyond 2023. However, British Museum director Hartwig Fischer took a meeting with several BP representatives in June 2021 to discuss “the different options for BP’s support post Spring 2023”.
A statement from the British Museum said: “In times of reduced public funding, corporate sponsors like BP allow us to fulfil our mission to deliver unique learning experiences to our visitors. We have not ended out partnership with BP. BP is a valued long term supporter of the museum and our current partnership runs until this year.”
A spokesperson for Climate Unstained meanwhile said that the British Museum “appears to be stage managing its exit”, branding the institution’s reluctance to confirm the end of its commercial partnership with BP as a “missed opportunity for the museum to finally show climate leadership”.
The BP partnership has been opposed and protested for years, with numerous public protests and open letters, along with high-profile cultural figures such as Emma Thompson, Mark Ruffalo and Mark Rylance, lending their voices to the cause.
While it remains unclear whether BP’s partnership with the British Museum will continue beyond 2023, several major UK cultural institutions including the National Portrait Gallery, Tate, National Galleries Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company have all ended their relationships with the fossil fuel giant.
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