2022 UK arts festivals face pressure from activists over corporate sponsorship ties amid climate change and human rights concerns.

2022 has become a challenging summer for UK arts festivals as activists demand better practices from institutions, galleries, publishers, and music festivals. The urgency of climate change and the ongoing situation in Gaza have driven artists to join forces and demand improvements from the arts industry, targeting sponsorship deals with corporations linked to fossil fuels and human rights abuses. Some festivals have opted to cut ties or never accept corporate sponsorship, while others rely on financial support and argue that boycotting these deals could lead to their decline. The debate around corporate sponsorship has grown more prominent within the arts community, with some organizers adopting a stance against corporate sponsorship and others relying on financial support from corporate sponsors.

August 10, 2024
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