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Officials at the British Museum reportedly recently met with BP officials to discuss options for support ‘post Spring 2023’, hinting at a likely renewal of the controversial partnership
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 21 Feb 2022
Documents obtained by Culture Unstained show that the museum is in talks to further its commercial partnership with BP Credit: Canva
The British Museum is seeking to renew its highly-controversial commercial sponsorship deal with BP, according to newly-revealed documents.
The documents, obtained by anti-greenwashing research and campaigning organisation Culture Unstained, show that British Museum director Hartwig Fischer spoke to BP in June 2021 to arrange a meeting in the autumn to discuss the future of the partnership.
Agendas from the meeting – acquired and published by Culture Unstained under the Freedom of Information act – show that Fischer discussed “the different options for BP’s support post Spring 2023” with several BP representatives, before giving a tour of the museum focussed on “framing the relationship with BP”.
BP or not BP staged a mock presentation entitled ‘Stonehenge drilling plans’ in protest of the museum’s long-standing partnership with the fossil fuel company CREDIT: BP or not BP
According to Culture Unstained, Fischer wrote to BP after the meeting, saying it was “wonderful to have the opportunity to discuss the future - particularly as our organisations focus more on sustainability,” in a move which the campaigning group described as “demonstrating a clear lack of understanding of BP’s business plans, which involve exploring for new fossil fuels and to still be drilling in 2050.”
“If the British Museum were going to follow anything close to best practice, it would be taking the time to properly scrutinise BP’s business and climate claims, weighing up the huge reputational damage caused by BP’s sponsorship and consulting its own staff and stakeholders about this controversial decision,” said Culture Unstained.
The news of a potential extended commercial partnership between BP and the British Museum follows years-long public opposition, including protests and open letters, with several high-profile celebrities including actors Mark Ruffalo, Emma Thompson and Mark Rylance lending their voices to the cause.
Protestors gathered in the museum’s Grand Court over the past weekend CREDIT: BP or not BP
Most recently, a demonstration against the partnership took place this past weekend, where climate activists from environmental group BP or not BP? posed as museum and BP personnel to deliver a mock presentation entitled: ‘Stonehenge drilling plans’.
The protest took place in the museum’s Great Court during the opening of the BP-sponsored The World of Stonehenge exhibition and featured dummy banners that read “The future meets the past. Are you ready for BP at Stonehenge?”
This isn’t the first time the group has voiced its opposition to the museum’s association with BP, having previously protested the museum’s Troy: Myth and Reality exhibition, also sponsored by BP, with a four-metre-high Trojan Horse.
At the time, Helen Glynn, an activist from BP or not BP? said: “The Trojan horse is the perfect metaphor for BP sponsorship. On its surface, the sponsorship looks like a generous gift, but inside lurks death and destruction.”
In the same year, the group led a socially-distanced protest against the institution’s ties to the fossil fuel industry.
Activists previously protested the museum’s commercial partnership with BP at its Troy: Myth and Reality exhibition CREDIT: Hugh Warwick/BP or not BP/PA
This latest protest followed an open letter, which was signed by 300 academics and sent to the museum’s Board of Directors, demanding it cut ties with BP.
The letter said that ending its relationship with BP would “enhance the museum’s public image, and in particular strengthen the museum’s ability to inspire children and young people, who are highly conscious of the threats posed by the climate crisis.”
Signatories included Rodney Harrison, professor of Heritage Studies at UCL’s Institute of Archaeology and project co-lead of ‘Reimagining Museums for Climate Action.’
“It’s becoming increasingly embarrassing and distressing for members of the archaeological and museum community to see their discipline tarnished by association with fossil fuel companies through such sponsorship arrangements,” he said.
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