An abridged version of this article by Mark Rylance appears in the Guardian, along with this news story. 'BP or not BP? That is the question' An RSC Hamlet questions the state of Denmark Do you remember being told as a child not to accept gifts from strangers? Strangers are not necessarily friends. Shakespeare uses … Continue reading Mark Rylance: why I’m resigning from the RSC

This week, leading artists and musicians, as well as campaigners and activists, have spoken out powerfully against BP's sponsorship of the arts. Just a few months ago, it was the British Museum being scrutinised over its BP sponsorship deal. Now the spotlight is firmly on the National Portrait Gallery and Royal Opera House too. On … Continue reading It’s been a bad week for BP and its sponsorship deals

Sadiq Khan called on to end permission for oil branding of Royal Opera House’s ‘BP Big Screen’ broadcasts 200 signatories to letter include leading figures from classical, folk and popular music News comes day after BP Portrait Award judge and respected artists denounce BP sponsorship of the prize Extinction Rebellion group plans to mount protest … Continue reading 200 musicians urge Sadiq Khan to drop permission for BP’s opera branding

Judge of BP Portrait Award writes to gallery Director on eve of ceremony Portrait artists, including two former winners, echo call for Gallery to act on climate emergency Controversy comes just months after Gallery rejected Sackler grant Royal Opera House also facing mass protest over its BP deal On the eve of its announcement of … Continue reading BP Portrait Award judge and winners call for end to sponsorship deal

Yesterday morning it was announced that, after facing growing controversy, the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) had rejected a £1 million grant from the Sackler Trust. Concerns had been raised over how the Sackler family’s profits had been generated; largely through its ownership of Purdue Pharma, a company that fuelled and then profited from the opioid … Continue reading The Portrait Gallery sacked the Sacklers. But why does it still back BP?

Last Saturday, the British Museum encountered what was perhaps the biggest protest in its 260-year history. The activist theatre group BP or not BP? - accompanied by Iraqi activists and over 300 supporters - creatively took over the museum’s Great Court in opposition to BP sponsorship of the museum’s exhibition, I am Ashurbanipal: King of … Continue reading How the British Museum and Foreign Office boost BP’s spin on Iraq

We have released a new briefing on BP's role in Iraq. From war to warming: the shameful story of BP in Iraq complements other responses to BP's sponsorship of the 'I am Ashurbanipal' exhibition at the British Museum, which features objects from what is now Iraq. To see an online version, go to the Behind the … Continue reading New briefing on BP in Iraq

National Gallery confirms that controversial partnership with oil giant Shell is over Gallery joins list of major Dutch Museums whose Shell sponsorship deals have recently ended Pressure mounts on Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum where a new Shell-sponsored exhibition is due to open this week News comes as IPCC launches “game changing” report emphasising urgency … Continue reading Shell ends National Gallery partnership in bid to boost influence in science education

In the face of mounting criticism of its oil sponsorship deals, the Science Museum Group has repeatedly claimed that sponsors like Shell and BP are given ‘the same thought and consideration’ as any other funder, and that its museums always have ‘editorial control’. But emails acquired by Culture Unstained under the Freedom of Information Act … Continue reading Science Museum backs Big Oil’s influence over STEM education, emails reveal