The Science Museum has said it will no longer use non-disparagement clauses in contracts with sponsors after media reports of the charity being “gagged” by such deals.
Last week, the Guardian reported that the London-based charity has been gagged by a sponsorship contract with the Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor.
It said the contract includes a clause that prohibits the charity and its trustees from making “any statement or issue any publicity or otherwise be involved in any conduct or matter that may reasonably be foreseen as discrediting or damaging the goodwill or reputation of the sponsor” during its Wonderlab: the Equinor Gallery exhibition.
The Science Museum said such clauses were standard in commercial contracts and that its “editorial control” was asserted in the deals.
But it told Civil Society News that after media “misreporting” of such clauses, it will no longer include them in new agreements with sponsors.
Science Museum: ‘We retain editorial control’
Environmentalists called the clauses “troubling”, urging the Science Museum to cut ties with the oil and gas industry.
A spokesperson for the Science Museum Group said it respects those who disagree with its decision to accept sponsorship from some energy companies but takes a robust stance to any misleading claims.
They said that the accusations in the Guardian’s article relate to reciprocal commercial clauses that are standard for corporate partnerships for many organisations.
However, to avoid further misinterpretation going forwards the charity decided to no longer have such clauses in new agreements.
“The Science Museum Group achieves public good for a wide and diverse audience of many millions with the sponsorship it receives,” the spokesperson said.
“Engaging people with humanity’s greatest challenge – the fight against devastating climate change – is a major priority for our museums alongside reducing the impact of our own activity as we work towards achieving net zero by 2033.
“At all times the Science Museum retains editorial control of the content within our exhibitions and galleries, and this is asserted clearly and unambiguously in all contracts we sign.”
Equinor, meanwhile, said it has not asked for the clause to be inserted and the contract was written by the charity.
Concerns over work with ‘unethical companies’
Campaign group Culture Unstained said the clauses are “deeply troubling” and “particularly concerning when it comes to unethical companies like fossil fuel companies because of their potential to undermine the independence and integrity of public institutions”.
Co-director Chris Garrard said: “As well as potentially undermining editorial independence, what’s more concerning is that these clauses appear to lead some directors and members of senior management to come out and defend their fossil fuel sponsors in the media.
“It can create a situation where the leaders of some public institutions, such as the Science Museum, are effectively carrying out advocacy and promotional work for oil and gas companies – and this shouldn’t be a role that they are playing.
“This is especially problematic given the oil and gas industry’s history of promoting disinformation in relation to climate science.”
Criticism of other partnerships
The Science Museum has worked in partnership with oil and gas giants including Shell, BP and Equinor for years.
In 2016, it launched Wonderlab: the Statoil Gallery, a new interactive science gallery sponsored by energy provider Statoil, now known as Equinor.
The charity has often been criticised for such partnerships. In 2021, two trustees of the Science Museum resigned following its decision to partner with Adani Green Energy, a subsidiary of the prominent fossil fuel conglomerate Adani Group.
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