Sir Mark Rylance and activists’ plea for Sadler’s Wells to axe Barclays deal sparks row

Campaigners led by Sir Mark Rylance urged Sadler’s Wells to end its relationship with the bank (AP)

A row has broken out after climate change activists called on London’s most famous dance theatre to axe a partnership with Barclays that funds cheap tickets for young people.

Campaigners led by Sir Mark Rylance urged Sadler’s Wells to end its relationship with the bank claiming it is the largest financier of “fossil fuel extraction” in Europe, investing $145 billion (£103 billion) since 2015.

The theatre signed a sponsorship deal with the bank last year and now runs The Barclays Dance Pass scheme, which funds £10 tickets for up to 10,000 young people aged 16 to 30 a year.

But the campaigners argue that Barclays financing polluting fuel industries poses “a threat that far outweighs any potential benefit from the provision of the dance pass”.

In the letter in Wednesday’s Times they said Sadler’s Wells should find “sustainable arts sponsorship”.

Sadler’s Wells said it has met members of campaign group Extinction Rebellion to discuss the Dance Pass sponsorship and their concerns were passed to the theatre’s board, which is chaired by Barclays chairman Nigel Higgins.

Critics, however, say singling out arts institutions who are battling for survival after their revenues fell off a cliff during the pandemic is unfair.

It follows The British Museum being targeted for its long partnership with BP.

And last week the UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN) and Scientists for Extinction Rebellion occupied the Science Museum over its relationship with Shell.

The oil company is the main sponsor of its Our Future Planet exhibition.

Dozens of police officers threatened a group of protesters with arrest at the weekend after they brought sleeping bags and a composting toilet into the museum in South Kensington and attempted to stage a sit in.

Extinction Rebellion said companies are trying to “greenwash” their reputations with sponsorship deals.

“Arts and culture must stop accepting funding from fossil fuel financiers,” it added.

Barclays said it aims to become a “net zero bank by 2050”.

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