British Museum Ditches Tobacco Firm Sponsorship Amidst Public Backlash
The British Museum has severed ties with Japan Tobacco International (JTI), a move welcomed by critics who have been campaigning for an end to the deal since 2016. The decision follows pressure from a pressure group and reports that government officials had raised questions about the sponsorship, labeling it "deeply troubling".
In January, Culture Unstained submitted a freedom of information request that revealed correspondence between government departments and JTI, which raised concerns about the World Health Organization's framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC). The FCTC bars states from advertising and promoting smoking products.
The move comes after similar controversies surrounding the British Museum's sponsorship deals. In 2023, the museum signed a £50m deal with BP that was met with criticism from environmental activists. Protests have disrupted events held at the museum, including its inaugural Pink Ball, which raised over £2.5m despite protests.
Dr Allen Gallagher, co-director of the Tobacco Control Research Group, stated that such agreements enable "a deadly industry to use UK cultural institutions as a way to try and improve its public image". Labour MP Dr Simon Opher echoed similar sentiments, saying there were no circumstances in which public bodies should be "legitimising an industry that profits from harm".
A British Museum spokesperson defended the decision, stating that sponsorship was crucial for securing financial stability. However, it appears the museum has chosen not to renew the 15-year partnership with JTI.
The move highlights the ongoing debates surrounding sponsorship of cultural institutions in the UK, with many calling for greater scrutiny and accountability.
The British Museum has severed ties with Japan Tobacco International (JTI), a move welcomed by critics who have been campaigning for an end to the deal since 2016. The decision follows pressure from a pressure group and reports that government officials had raised questions about the sponsorship, labeling it "deeply troubling".
In January, Culture Unstained submitted a freedom of information request that revealed correspondence between government departments and JTI, which raised concerns about the World Health Organization's framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC). The FCTC bars states from advertising and promoting smoking products.
The move comes after similar controversies surrounding the British Museum's sponsorship deals. In 2023, the museum signed a £50m deal with BP that was met with criticism from environmental activists. Protests have disrupted events held at the museum, including its inaugural Pink Ball, which raised over £2.5m despite protests.
Dr Allen Gallagher, co-director of the Tobacco Control Research Group, stated that such agreements enable "a deadly industry to use UK cultural institutions as a way to try and improve its public image". Labour MP Dr Simon Opher echoed similar sentiments, saying there were no circumstances in which public bodies should be "legitimising an industry that profits from harm".
A British Museum spokesperson defended the decision, stating that sponsorship was crucial for securing financial stability. However, it appears the museum has chosen not to renew the 15-year partnership with JTI.
The move highlights the ongoing debates surrounding sponsorship of cultural institutions in the UK, with many calling for greater scrutiny and accountability.
finally caught up on this news lol... i'm kinda surprised they took so long to ditch JTI tho? like i get that public backlash is a thing but 9 years seems like a pretty long time to keep it going 
anyway, glad to see the museum putting their foot down on this one. still kinda puzzling why they wouldn't just say no from the start though 
don't even get me started on those BP sponsorship deals... £50m is some serious cash and i'm not surprised environmental activists were all over it 
what's next for the museum? gonna be interesting to see how this whole sponsorship thing plays out 
It's not just the tobacco company itself, but also what it represents - harm and all that. So it's cool that they're stepping away from that. Maybe we can expect more cultural institutions to reevaluate their partnerships soon? 
I've been saying it for ages, our museums should be free from corporate influence 
. It's not about money, it's about the message we're sending to the public 
. We need our cultural institutions to be safe spaces, not propaganda machines 
. Those tobacco firm sponsorships are so damaging, especially considering they're profiting off a product that kills millions every year 
. The government needs to get on board and regulate these partnerships ASAP 
!
like seriously can you imagine having a tobacco company sponsoring an iconic museum like that? it's just gross tbh I remember when my aunt was trying to quit smoking and she had to deal with those awful JTI ads on TV all the time 
anyway yeah the pressure from Culture Unstained must have been too much for them to handle lol guess you could say they got "burned" by their decision 
. The fact that public pressure and campaigns played a significant role in ending the partnership is telling. It just goes to show that when people speak out against something, institutions take notice 
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. Anyways, it just shows how power of public pressure can bring change - and I'm all for it 
Just dropped some stats on this one! The British Museum's decision to ditch JTI is a win-win for the people! 
It's no wonder why governments and health organizations are cracking down on tobacco promotion.
The museum's decision to sever ties with JTI is a solid step towards prioritizing public health and cultural integrity over corporate interests.
According to Google Trends, searches for "tobacco sponsorship" have increased by 300% in the past year alone! 
It's clear that people are demanding more transparency and accountability from our institutions. Keep pushing, everyone! 
and now we got proof theyre sneaky and trying to use museums to make themselves look good 
anyhoo its awesome to see the museum standing up for itself & doing what's right 