The Science Museum’s controversial relationship with major polluter BP is to end after almost 25 years. The decision follows a growing boycott over the Museum’s unethical sponsors. Pressure continues for the Science Museum to now also drop its coal and weapons giant sponsor Adani, and on the British Museum which is now the only major UK cultural institution still sponsored by BP.
64% of Science Museum staff disagree with the SMG’s decision-making on public programmes, sponsorship, and partnerships. A survey by Prospect union shows widespread “ethical concerns with controversial sponsorships impact staff pride, morale and motivation”.
New documents reveal BP’s disturbing influence and involvement in STEM education projects mounted by London’s Science Museum. Materials disclosed under FOI rules show how the oil and gas company chaired and had the power to veto decisions for a major research project which now forms the basis of the BP-sponsored ‘Science Museum Group (SMG) Academy’ for training teachers and educators in STEM.
Today DeSmog published a joint investigation with Culture Unstained to reveal that the co-ordinated effort by leading arts institutions to undermine ethical sponsorship campaigns has been led by an oil PR firm, The Brunswick Group, commissioned by Sadler's Wells.
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.
British Museum members are speaking out to say that the museum's controversial deal with oil and gas giant BP must not be renewed
Last week the British Museum's chair spouted a series of 'alternative facts' straight from BP's greenwash playbook on BBC radio. We felt they needed some serious fact-checking, so our Co-Director Jess Worth obliged with this piece for DeSmog UK.
Culture Unstained 