…with this words, a group of British activist from the pressure group «BP or not BP» protested inside the British Museum in London against BP’s sponsorship of an exhibition that took place in February 2019. The British Museum was occupied by hundreds of people protesting its relationship with sponsor BP connecting it with the war in Iraq and impact on climate change as well. BP, formally Anglo-Persian oil company, has been accused of being one of the most destructive companies in the world. The events held by the museum allowed it to appear as a «good corporate citizen» which has left many people furious.
The British Museum commented on the case saying that it respects other people’s right to express their views and that peaceful protest is allowed as long as it doesn’t carry any risk to the museum’s collection, staff or their visitors. When it comes to why they chose BP as their sponsor, the museum explained that «the long-term support provided by the company allowed it to plan its programming in advance and to bring cultures to a global audience through their major popular exhibitions».
If you didn’t know yet, the majority of museums are either non-profit or are operated by government agencies. Although being a non-profit organization gives museums such advantages as: better and more supportive media coverage, having higher standing within the community, and they can always at least ask their governments for financial help. Today, with the current economical situation where people try to spend as less as possible and poor donations, many museums are having difficult times at staying sustainable. A decrease in income has left museums desperate in sponsorship. Most of the income comes from public funding.
Although we can understand the desperation, it still makes us wonder why the British Museum chose BP as their sponsor. Where they that desperate? The scandal turned later into a public debate between the museum and the climate change activists where the British Museums’s chair of trustees defended their partnership with the oil giant. One of the arguments was the cut in public funding which is why they needed support from a big business. Chris Garrard, the co-director of an anti-climate change campaigning group called Culture Unstained, accused the British Museum of being unethical and «unwilling to back up its words with meaningful action».
The British Museum has so far not ended their partnership with BP, but are planning to open an exhibition about culture and climate in May 2020. (The exhibition is not sponsored by BP.)
References:
M. Busby, 16. Feb. 2019, «Campaigners protest against BP sponsorship of British Museum»: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/feb/16/campaigners-protest-against-bp-sponsorship-of-british-museum
N. Rea, 1. Aug. 2019, «The British Museum Defends BP Sponsorship in a Public Debate With Climate Activists Following the Resignation of a Trustee»: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/british-museum-bp-climate-1614934
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