Activists want National Portrait Gallery to end its sponsorship deal with BP

The complaint was sent to the National Portrait Gallery by Culture Unstained, an organisation that fights to end fossil fuel sponsorship of culture. It is part of the campaign to make British museums reject sponsorship from BP. Tate and the Edinburgh International Festival already terminated their partnership with BP after 26 and 34 years of sponsorship respectively.

The complaint filed by the organisation notes that accepting support from the oil corporation, the National Portrait Gallery breaches its own ethics rules written in the gallery’s Ethical Fundraising Policy. According to the gallery’s policy, it must reject support from sources with known or suspected links to human rights violations.

Culture Unstained activists published a report describing BP’s ties with the oppressive regimes across the world known for human rights violations. It also gives a list of BP’s corporate crimes and dire safety record. The authors note that the research is a reasonable ground for the gallery to end its sponsorship deal with BP.

The organisation emphasises that cultural institutions legitimise companies with a questionable reputation by accepting support from them. In BP’s case, it’s the implicit approval of violations of human rights and safety standards, as well as contributing to climate change.

Culture Unstained was founded in 2016. It is a research, engagement and campaigning organisation, which aims to end fossil fuel sponsorship of culture. Activists work to set clear ethical standards, raise awareness about fossil fuel companies’ negative impact on communities and ecosystems around the world, end the practice allowing corporations to improve their image by sponsoring arts and culture.

Photo: Culture Unstained