In a significant shift for the culture sector, museums and galleries could soon be urged to ‘transition away’ from sponsorship deals with fossil fuel companies, as well as organisations involved in environmental harm and human rights abuses, under proposed new ethics guidelines.
This week, the UK parliament debated a ban on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship for the first time in what is, hopefully, the first step towards legislation that would limit the industry’s ability to promote its polluting products and spread disinformation. As these voices and perspectives make clear, advertising and sponsorship is also a coordinated strategy to deflect from the polluting and destructive impacts the fossil fuel industry has on communities around the world. Bringing in a ban would stop the likes of BP, Shell and Adani from cynically trying to hide the reality of their business.
Unions and groups representing scientists, teachers, parents and workers in the arts have called for those working in education and culture sectors to join a boycott of the Science Museum to demand an end to the Museum’s ongoing sponsorship arrangements with fossil fuel producers BP and Adani.
Today, internal documents from BP have been made public which uncover the oil company’s ‘cynical strategy’ for sponsoring art and culture. The internal memos show how far from seeking to generously support the culture sector, BP had sought to use sponsorship of museums and galleries as a way to both reach ‘high-level decision-makers’ and secure … Continue reading Revealed: BP memos on cynical sponsorship strategy for art, culture and sport
With confirmation from BP today that it will be dropping its target to cut oil and gas production, we believe it's time for cultural organisations to act... "Before this week, BP was already falling well short of internationally agreed climate targets due, in large part, to its significant investments in new oil and gas drilling. Now, BP has … Continue reading Museums must drop BP after firm ditches pledge to cut fossil fuel production and ramps up polluting investments
New disclosures obtained by Culture Unstained reveal a failure of leadership and lack of meaningful response at the Science Museum regarding their indicted sponsor Adani.
Briefings for Boris Johnson’s meetings with Gautam Adani at Science Museum reveal museum's role in Adani's lobbying - and the scale of their weapons production ambitions
Ahead of a First-tier Information Tribunal beginning today, the Cabinet Office has taken the almost unprecedented move of disclosing several briefing documents which relate to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s meetings in 2021 and 2022 with the billionaire Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, who has now been indicted by US prosecutors. The Appeal, … Continue reading Cabinet Office to face Information Tribunal over Adani meetings with former PM including day Science Museum sponsorship announced
RBC holds over $37 billion worth of investments in companies which are complicit in war crimes. With a history steeped in colonialism and land theft, RBC is deeply invested in the genocide, illegal occupation and apartheid against the Palestinian people.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Gautam Adani, the billionaire Chair of the Adani Group, on charges of fraud and bribery relating to the ‘Adani Green Energy’ arm of the multinational conglomerate. The move has prompted calls from critics of the Science Museum’s controversial Adani sponsorship deal that it should now spell the end … Continue reading Calls for Science Museum to drop Adani after arrest warrant issued for billionaire Chairman over alleged $256m bribery plot
