Scottish Ballet on Tuesday said it had ended a sponsorship deal with BP, a day after the National Portrait Gallery in London cut ties with the energy giant.

The Glasgow-based organisation, one of the UK's five leading ballet companies, said its relationship with the firm had reached a "natural conclusion".

A decision was taken not to renew the deal on January 31 as the oil and gas company was not in keeping with the ballet's "green action plan" to be carbon neutral by 2030.

"We sincerely acknowledge the long-term support of BP," a spokesman said.

BP said in a statement it had supported arts and culture in Scotland "for decades" and was proud of its nearly 10-year sponsorship of the ballet.

It had recently supported "their sustainability strategy to help measure their carbon footprint as they start their carbon neutral journey", the company added.

"We wish them every success in the future."

Scottish Ballet came under pressure from environmental campaigners during last November's UN climate change summit in Glasgow to drop its association with BP.

Activists have been calling on British cultural institutions to end their deals with energy companies, accusing them of trying to "greenwash" their activities.

BP had sponsored the National Portrait Gallery's prestigious Portrait Award since 1989.

The Royal Shakespeare Company and National Galleries Scotland in Edinburgh have also severed links to BP.

The National Theatre in London has ended its sponsorship deal with Shell, while the British Museum has come under fire for BP's sponsorship of a new exhibition on Stonehenge.

Zoe Lafferty, a member of pressure group BP or not BP?, said cultural organisations were "finally making the right ethical decisions".

"We desperately need cultural gatekeepers to start being leaders in times of crisis rather than allowing the arts to hide decades of violence towards people and ecosystems," she added.

Britain's National Portrait Gallery ends oil giant BP deal
London (AFP) Feb 22, 2022 –

London's renowned National Portrait Gallery said Tuesday it was ending a controversial sponsorship deal with BP, the latest British cultural institution to turn its back on the energy giant.

BP has sponsored the museum's prestigious Portrait Award since 1989.

"The Gallery is hugely grateful to BP for its long-term support of the BP Portrait Award," director Nicholas Cullinan said in a statement.

"Its funding for the Award has fostered creativity, encouraged portrait painting for over 30 years and given a platform to artists from around the world, as well as providing inspiration and enjoyment for audiences across the UK," he said.

Recent soaring energy prices have brought massive profits to oil majors, including BP, along with fierce criticism from environmentalists and politicians at a time when consumers are left with rising bills.

BP Senior Vice President Louise Kingham said the company was "immensely proud of our role in championing British arts and culture for over 30 years".

"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," she said.

The National Portrait Gallery is currently being renovated and is set to reopen in 2023.

The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Scottish National Gallery have both also severed links with BP, while the National Theatre in London has ended its sponsorship deal with Shell, under pressure from artists and environmental activists.

The British Museum is also under fire over a sponsorship deal with BP for a recently opened exhibition about the prehistoric site at Stonehenge.