Our campaign so far…
Over 200 musicians and composers back a letter to the Mayor of London, calling on him to withdraw permission for BP’s branding of the Royal Opera House’s ‘BP Big Screens’
As part of our Crude Connections web resource, we revealed how the Royal Opera House and BP’s sponsorship of classical music is a key part of how the company boosts its business in Russia.
Prior to forming Culture Unstained in 2015, we helped to coordinate a letter from a group of respected composers and musicians calling on the Royal Opera House to end its BP sponsorship deal.
Quick facts
BP sponsorship of the Royal Opera House
BP has sponsored the Royal Opera House (ROH) for 28 years and the company is currently sponsoring the ‘BP Big Screen’ broadcasts that take place annually across the UK.
- The Big Screens offer BP a valuable opportunity to boost to its brand, with photos of opera-goers wearing free BP-branded merchandise posted widely across social media.
- BP has often invited government ministers to attend opera performances as its VIP guests, an opportunity to maintain close relationships with policy-makers.
- Executive Director of the ROH Alex Beard (formerly Deputy Director of Tate when it too was sponsored by BP) has been keen to tout the institution’s green credentials while overlooking the ethical conflict created by a sponsorship deal with Big Oil.
