National Portrait Gallery drops deal with BP after 33 years amid eco concerns 

The National Portrait Gallery has ended a 33-year relationship with BP amid concern over its environmental impact.

The energy company has been the main sponsor of the gallery’s annual portrait award since 1989.

But in recent years the partnership has drawn criticism because of BP’s role in ‘fuelling the climate crisis’.

The National Portrait Gallery (pictured) has ended a 33-year relationship with BP amid concern over its environmental impact

Director Nicholas Cullinan said the gallery was ‘hugely grateful to BP for its long-term support of the BP Portrait Award.’

The portrait gallery is the latest organisation to sever ties with BP due to climate change concerns, following the likes of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Tate.

Louise Kingham, a senior vice-president at BP, said: ‘We are immensely proud of our role in championing British arts and culture for over 30 years, but the BP of today is a very different company from when we first started our partnership with the National Portrait Gallery.

The energy company has been the main sponsor of the gallery’s annual portrait award since 1989 (stock photo used)

The portrait gallery is the latest organisation to sever ties with BP due to climate change concerns, following the likes of the Royal Shakespeare Company (pictured) and the Tate

‘As we transition to become net zero by 2050 and help the world get there too, we must look at new ways to best use our talent, experience, and resources.’

BP added it was reviewing its partnerships and initiatives ‘to ensure activity is aligned to its new strategy’.

The BP Portrait Award prize was not held last year or this year while the gallery’s building in central London is closed for redevelopment.

In 2019 artists including Sir Antony Gormley and Sir Anish Kapoor called for an end to BP’s sponsorship of the gallery when the contract expires this year.

The letter, signed by 80 artists, claimed BP’s continued sponsorship of the Portrait Award was ‘lending credence to the company’s misleading assurance that it’s doing all it can’ to fight climate change.