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BP pledges £10m art sponsorship BP pledges £10m art sponsorship
(about 1 hour later)
Oil giant BP says it will continue to sponsor the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House and Tate Britain, pledging £10m over the next five years.Oil giant BP says it will continue to sponsor the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House and Tate Britain, pledging £10m over the next five years.
The company announced the "renewal and expansion" of its support for the institutions at a British Museum event.The company announced the "renewal and expansion" of its support for the institutions at a British Museum event.
The announcement follows controversy over BP's backing of Tate galleries.The announcement follows controversy over BP's backing of Tate galleries.
Earlier this month an 8,000-strong petition was handed to the Tate calling for an end to the sponsorship.Earlier this month an 8,000-strong petition was handed to the Tate calling for an end to the sponsorship.
Last year protesters poured molasses during demonstrations outside a summer party at Tate Britain in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.Last year protesters poured molasses during demonstrations outside a summer party at Tate Britain in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey welcomed the "significant investment", saying BP had "led the way in business support for the arts".Culture Minister Ed Vaizey welcomed the "significant investment", saying BP had "led the way in business support for the arts".
The issue of corporate investment in the arts has proved a divisive one over the last 12 months. BP managing director Iain Conn said its support enabled "people around the country and the world to connect through the experience of outstanding exhibitions and performances, promoting ideas and encouraging creativity".
Earlier in December, poets John Kinsella and Alice Oswald withdrew from the shortlist of the TS Eliot Prize in protest at its sponsorship by investment firm Aurum Funds. British Museum director Neil MacGregor said that, thanks to BP's support, "well over one million visitors to the British Museum have been able to get close to Michelangelo, discover the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, experience Chinese New Year and understand Ancient Persia".
Pressure group Platform told the BBC News website that BP's involvement with the institutions "represents a serious stain on the UK's cultural patrimony".
The group organised a letter sent to the Guardian last year, signed by 171 artists, complaining about BP's sponsorship of Tate Britain.
They wrote the letter ahead of the summer party at Tate Britain which celebrated 20 years of support from the oil company.
Earlier this month Platform also published - together with protest groups Liberate Tate and Art Not Oil - a report, Not If But When - Culture Beyond Oil.
'Profound' good
In a statement released on Monday, Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota said: "Over the past 20 years, BP's sponsorship of Tate Britain has allowed us to do far more with the way we display our collection.
"From showing historic masterpieces to presenting the latest developments in contemporary art, the BP British art displays make both the famous and the lesser-known works of British art accessible to a variety of audiences."
Both Tate and the British Museum have ethics committees that regularly review their sponsorship deals.
BP's Tate sponsorship had been due to run out next year.
At the Tate members AGM earlier this month, director Sir Nicholas reportedly said "the whole question of the support from BP has exercised trustees quite seriously over the past two years".
They had decided the good "that has come from BP for the gallery, and for the gallery's public, has been very profound", he added.
BP is also sponsoring next year's Cultural Olympiad and Festival of London.
The issue of corporate investment in the arts has proved a divisive one over the past 12 months.
Earlier this month, poets John Kinsella and Alice Oswald withdrew from the shortlist of the TS Eliot Prize in protest at its sponsorship by investment firm Aurum Funds.