24 November 2016 Unsanctioned vigil held for jailed human rights campaigners at ‘Curator’s Introduction to the BP Sponsored Exhibition Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds’ Exhibition displays objects from ancient sunken cities in the Nile Delta, where BP is now drilling for fossil fuels. Community opposition successfully halted BP’s gas plant plans – the North…
My friend and Platform ally Lucy Fairley has died, aged 70. We’ve known her and her work for nearly 25 years and worked especially closely with her in the late 1990s. She founded Artists Agency in Sunderland in 1983, and in 1987 appointed Esther Salamon to join her initially as Placement Officer, then as in…
It pushes me quickly to tears. I’m kneeling on the cold stone floor of the Great Court, legs tucked beneath me, one foot crossed under the other. I’m listening to a rendition of A Requiem to Sinking Cities – an agit-performance in the heart of the British Museum. Silent figures hold up two banners, ‘#DropBP’…
Today’s Times has published an open letter from Mark Rylance, Naomi Klein, Nnimmo Bassey, Matthew Herbert, and 215 artists, actors, arts managers, musicians, frontline activists, campaigners, and scientists, arguing: We cannot afford another five years of BP-branded culture. Last Thursday BP announced the renewal of its flagship sponsorship programme. Its partners, this time: British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Royal…
Press release: Tate loses in court over BP secrets as oil co. renews other cultural sponsorships Information Tribunal rules Tate must reveal BP sponsorship fees for 2007-2011 in a legal victory for campaigners. Artists and campaigners promise fresh wave of discontent as British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Royal Opera House, and Royal Shakespeare Company sign…
Contact: Anna Galkina / 07942044472 / [email protected] Today BP announced new headline sponsorship agreements with the British Museum, Royal Opera House, National Portrait Gallery and Royal Shakespeare Company, providing the institutions with an average of only £375,000 a year each. This is less than the price of the average 2 bedroom flat in London, and 25% less…
Press release: Information Commissioner in U-turn over Tate’s BP secrecy * Information Commissioner argued in court hearing today that Tate failed to show how disclosing sponsorship details would harm its commercial interest. * The art museum is refusing to publish sponsorship fees despite ending the deal with BP.[1] Tate representative argued that commercial confidentiality bound…
Media advisory: Tate to defend its BP secrecy in court, 11 May (hearing details) * Art museum refusing to make public sponsorship details despite ending the deal with BP.[1] * Hearing scheduled for 11 May 2016. * British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and Royal Opera House believed to be reconsidering their sponsorship deals with BP by…
The news is just in: the Edinburgh International Festival is not renewing its BP sponsorship – as confirmed by the festival on Twitter. Last year, Festival star Simon McBurney criticised the BP relationship, alongside Emma Thompson, Mark Rylance, and Caryl Churchill. Several theatres including London’s Royal Court and Arcola have joined the Fossil Funds Free…
Edinburgh International Festival drops BP as poll shows public against oil sponsorship Sponsorship deal between BP and Edinburgh Festival dropped after 34 years New opinion poll shows 1 in 2 of Londoners want British Museum to stop promoting BP’s logo 62% of British Museum staff think BP sponsorship is ‘unethical’ Further survey details available on…