British Museum's Red Ball Gala Draws Energy Embargo for Palestine Protest and £30m Anonymous Gift
On 17 October, approximately 60 protesters from Energy Embargo for Palestine gathered outside the British Museum during its Red Ball fundraising event. Among the guests were London Mayor Sadiq Khan, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and presenter Maya Jama. A representative condemned the museum's association with the Israeli Embassy, displaying messages such as "Drop BP" and "Blood Ball." In 2023, the museum accepted a £50m sponsorship from BP and previously hosted an Israeli Independence Day celebration in May 2022. Director Nicholas Cullinan remarked in 2024 that turning down £50m would necessitate a compelling rationale. The gala also revealed a £30m anonymous contribution towards a £1bn masterplan, which encompasses various exhibitions and enhancements.
Key facts
- About 60 protesters from Energy Embargo for Palestine demonstrated outside the British Museum's Red Ball gala on 17 October
- Guests included Sadiq Khan, Benedict Cumberbatch and Maya Jama
- The museum took a £50m BP sponsorship deal in 2023
- An Israeli Embassy-organised Independence Day event was held at the museum in May last year
- Igor Tulchinsky, reported to have given £5m for the Bayeux Tapestry show, was honorary chair
- An anonymous £30m donation was announced at the ball, separate from the event's unannounced total
- Funds go toward a masterplan estimated to cost at least £1bn
- The ball fell during Frieze week in London
Entities
Artists
- Maya Jama
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Sadiq Khan
- Nicholas Cullinan
- Igor Tulchinsky
- Peter Thiel
- Georgie Robertson
Institutions
- British Museum
- Energy Embargo for Palestine
- The Art Newspaper
- BP
- Israeli Embassy
- Israel Defense Forces
- Palantir
- PayPal
- The Guardian
- Frieze
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- France
- United States
- Israel