The British Museum's inaugural fundraising gala on October 18 was interrupted by a protester from the group Energy Embargo for Palestine. The woman, who gained access to the Great Court by working as a waitress, took the stage next to board chair George Osborne holding a sign reading 'DROP BP NOW.' She criticized the museum for accepting a £50 million sponsorship from BP, an oil and gas company she accused of causing climate collapse and enabling genocide in Gaza. The gala, co-chaired by Isha Ambani of Reliance Industries, raised over $2 million from ticket sales and featured a silent auction, including a pet portrait by Tracey Emin and a private tour of Coco Chanel's Paris apartment.
The protest highlights ongoing controversy over the British Museum's financial ties with BP, which have drawn criticism from artists and academics. The museum announced the £50 million sponsorship in 2023 to 'safeguard the museum for future generations,' but activists argue such partnerships with fossil fuel companies are unethical. The disruption also called out the Ambani family, whose Reliance Industries sponsored the museum's exhibition 'Ancient India: living traditions' and is involved in oil, gas, and surveillance. This incident underscores the growing pressure on cultural institutions to reconsider corporate sponsorships linked to environmental and human rights concerns.