(London) The famous National Portrait Gallery in London announced on Tuesday that it would not renew its controversial partnership with BP when it expires in December, the latest of British cultural institutions to turn their backs on the oil giant’s patronage.
Posted at 2:32 p.m.
BP had sponsored the Portrait Award since 1989, a prestigious annual prize at the London museum housing portraits of historical figures, which is currently closed for renovation before its planned reopening in 2023.
“The Gallery is very grateful to BP for its long-term support of the BP Portrait Award,” museum director Nicholas Cullinan said in a statement.
“His funding of the prize has promoted creativity, encouraged portraiture for around 30 years and provided a platform for artists around the world, while inspiring and delighting audiences across the UK,” said he added.
In the same press release, BP said it was “very proud” to have supported British arts and culture “for over thirty years”.
But as the group aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, “we must look for new ways to make the best use of our talents, experiences and resources”, added a leader, Louise Kingham.
The debate over the sponsorship of cultural institutions by major oil companies has gained momentum in recent years in the United Kingdom, amid the climate emergency.
The Royal Shakespeare Company and National Galleries of Scotland have already cut ties with BP, and the National Theater has done the same with Shell, under pressure from artists and environmental activists.
The British Museum is under fire for BP’s patronage of a major exhibition which has just opened, devoted to the prehistoric site of Stonehenge.