London Science Museum ends BP sponsorship after nearly 25 years
On 31 August, the Science Museum in London will terminate its nearly 25-year partnership with BP, responding to pressure from educators and activists. The Science Museum Group has confirmed that the collaboration, which began in 2018 as a ten-year agreement set to continue until 2028, will end as planned. BP has previously supported the former Energy Gallery and the 2015 exhibit 'Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age.' Criticism regarding fossil fuel affiliations included a boycott led by the National Education Union. Chris Garrard from Culture Unstained described this outcome as a 'partial victory,' noting that the museum still collaborates with Adani Green Energy. Currently, the British Museum is the sole major UK cultural institution backed by BP after a £50m agreement in 2023.
Key facts
- The Science Museum's partnership with BP ends on 31 August.
- The partnership lasted nearly 25 years.
- The current sponsorship agreement began in 2018 and was described as a ten-year deal.
- BP sponsored the former Energy Gallery and the 2015 exhibition 'Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age'.
- Teachers pledged to boycott school trips until the museum ended partnerships with BP and Adani.
- The National Education Union backed the boycott campaign.
- Adani Green Energy sponsors the Energy Revolution gallery.
- Hannah Fry and Jo Foster resigned from SMG's board in 2021 over Adani sponsorship.
- Chris Rapley resigned from the advisory board over oil and gas sponsorship.
- The museum's sustainability policy assesses sponsors' progress towards Paris Agreement goals.
- In 2024, the museum ended a sponsorship deal with Equinor due to misalignment with Paris Agreement goals.
- The Museums Association approved a new code of ethics in October 2024 urging museums to transition away from fossil fuel sponsors.
- The British Museum remains the only major UK cultural institution still sponsored by BP.
Entities
Artists
- Daniel Selwyn
- Chris Garrard
- Hannah Fry
- Jo Foster
- Chris Rapley
- Ahdaf Soueif
Institutions
- Science Museum
- Science Museum Group
- BP
- National Education Union
- Adani Green Energy
- Adani Group
- Culture Unstained
- Museums Association
- British Museum
- Equinor
- Tate
- Royal Shakespeare Company
- Scottish Ballet
- National Portrait Gallery
- Royal Opera House
- The Guardian
- Museums Journal
- Museum Association
- Science Museum London
- Adani Green Energy Ltd
Locations
- London
- England
- United Kingdom