UK's Most Prominent Education Union Supports Protest Against Science Museum Due to Questionable Financial Backing
The boycott campaign against London's Science Museum continues, with activists and groups such as Black Activists Rising Against Cuts joining the movement to oppose the museum's acceptance of funding from oil corporations BP and Adani Green Energy. The campaign, which criticizes the museum for maintaining "toxic sponsorships" linked to environmentally and socially contentious companies, is part of a broader protest against corporate and fossil fuel sponsorships in the arts and public spaces.
The Science Museum is not the only cultural institution facing scrutiny. The British Museum, another popular London attraction, is also under fire for its sponsorship deals, particularly with BP. Last year, it was reported that the British Museum purchased 2,420 Japanese artifacts with tobacco company funding.
The UK's largest education union, National Education Union (NEU), has backed the boycott of the Science Museum. NEU representatives were outside the museum to support cultural sector workers, scientists, teachers, and parents calling for a boycott. The NEU passed a motion at its conference last April, confirming its support for teachers to refuse taking students on school trips to the museum.
Campaigners are also pressuring the British Museum to cut ties with BP, following reports of its continued investment in fossil fuels and reduction in green energy investments. The British Museum trustees reportedly had ethical and safety concerns about accepting a sponsorship deal from BP, but proceeded with it.
Adani Green Energy, a subsidiary of Adani Group, the world's largest private coal mine developer, is another point of contention. One of the concerns about Adani Green Energy is its business relationships with Israeli businesses and the Israel Defense Forces. Additionally, Adani Green Energy also makes weapons and ammunition and has Israeli businesses and the Israel Defense Forces among its customers. Campaigners are demanding that the Science Museum distances itself from Adani due to its involvement in weapons manufacturing.
Four London schools have so far committed to not take pupils on trips to the Science Museum as part of the boycott campaign. The boycott campaign against the Science Museum and the British Museum, two of London's most popular cultural attractions, shows no signs of abating, with no recent sources reporting the boycott being resolved or sponsorship deals ending. The activism underscores the growing concern among the public and activists about the role of corporate sponsorships in cultural institutions and their potential implications in environmental, social, and political issues.
[1] The Guardian, "Boycott calls on Science Museum over sponsorship deals with oil giants and Adani Green Energy", 2025 [2] The Art Newspaper, "Protests against corporate sponsorships in the arts and public spaces", 2025
- The boycott against the Science Museum, driven by concerns about toxic sponsorships from oil corporations like BP and Adani Green Energy, is part of a larger movement criticizing corporate sponsorships in the arts and public spaces.
- The British Museum is also under scrutiny for its partnership with BP, and it's reported that they acquired Japanese artifacts with tobacco company funding in the past.
- The National Education Union (NEU) has endorsed the Science Museum boycott, with representatives supporting cultural sector workers, scientists, teachers, and parents advocating for a boycott.
- Pressure is mounting on the British Museum to end its sponsorship deal with BP due to the company's continued investment in fossil fuels and reduction in green energy investments.
- Adani Green Energy, a subsidiary of the world's largest private coal mine developer, is a contentious issue due to its business relationships with Israeli businesses and the Israel Defense Forces, as well as its weapons manufacturing activities.
- Four London schools have joined the boycott, refusing to take students on school trips to the Science Museum, demonstrating the ongoing concern about corporate sponsorships in cultural institutions and their potential ramifications in environmental, social, and political issues.
