Royal Opera House cuts ties with BP

The Royal Opera House (pictured) has ended its long-term sponsorship relationship with British oil and gas company, BP.

The relationship had spanned more than three decades, with BP acting as a sponsor of the Royal Opera House since 1988.

A spokesperson told the Guardian in a statement: “We are grateful to BP for their sponsorship over 33 years which has enabled thousands around the country to see free opera and ballet through our BP Big Screens.”

The ROH and BP had agreed that their partnership would not “extend beyond December 2022, when BP’s contract came to an end”.

Fellow arts institutions such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Portrait Gallery, the British Film Institute (BFI), National Theatre, National Gallery and Tate Galleries have also ended their relationships with BP in recent years.

However, organisations such as the British Museum still receive funding from BP according to the article.

In a statement, BP said: “We’re proud to have supported the Royal Opera House for more than three decades. Over that time, BP Big Screens brought world-class opera and ballet performances free to thousands of people across the UK, and more recently we have supported some of the ROH’s sustainability initiatives.

“As our partnership agreement came to an end at the end of last year, we wish the Royal Opera House every success for the future.”