BP ends 27 year Tate Modern sponsorship as its 'business environment' proves tough
BP has called time on its long-standing sponsorship of the Tate Modern museum citing its “extremely challenging business environment” for the move.
From 2017, the partnership will come to an end with the Tate now on the lookout for a replacement sponsor.
The move comes after environmentalists took to the museum last summer, scrawling eco-friendly messages throughout the museum’s Turbine Hall.
However, Peter Mather, head of BP in the UK, told the Independent: “The decision to end our contractual relationship with the Tate has been a very difficult one. It reflects the extremely challenging business environment in which we are operating.”
He denied the decision had anything to do with the climate change protests, adding: “They are free to express their points of view but our decision wasn’t influenced by that. It was a business decision.”
BP also sponsors the Royal Opera House, the National Portrait Gallery, the British Museum and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
A Tate spokeswoman told the Indy: “Tate wished to express its gratitude to BP for its long-standing commitment and groundbreaking support of the collection displays and other programmes.”