Tate unsure of BP sponsorship renewal

Tate unsure of BP sponsorship renewal NEWS

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Following environmental protests, Tate may not renew BP sponsorship deal which is due to expire next year.

Tate's director Sir Nicholas Serota was presented this month with a petition with over 8,000 signatures of Tate members and visitors, prompting the review of their 20 year partnership with BP.

The petition was organised by the pressure groups Platform, Liberate Tate and Art Not Oil. Serota said Tate will decide whether to renew the contract 'quite soon'.

'You'll not be surprised to learn that the whole question of the support from BP has exercised trustees quite seriously over the past two years. Both the trustees as a board, but also the trustees through their ethics committee, which was instituted about four years ago, have looked very carefully at the question.' said Serota.

BP's sponsorship first attracted protests after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill last year. Some of the more extreme protests included five gallons of molasses being poured down Tate Britain's stairs, as well as helium balloons with dead fish attached let off in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall.

Art Not Oil has also protested against BP's sponsorship of 2012's Cultural Olympiad and Festival of London. A spokesman for BP said the company remained 'committed' to the Cultural Olympiad and London festival, but would not comment on the Tate prior to talks on the sponsorship renewal.