Shortlisted for JTI A&B Community Award, 2009
The opportunity
The Face of an Emperor: Hadrian Inspects the Wall touring exhibition which served as a preview to the Hadrian: Empire and Conflict exhibition at the British Museum enabled both BP and the British Museum to engage with communities outside of London by partnering with the two regional museums around Hadrian’s Wall in the North of England. Although this was part of the wider Partnership UK Programme which regularly tours British Museum objects around the UK, this was the first time the British Museum has ever created a touring preview for one of its major exhibitions in Bloomsbury. BP’s involvement in Face of an Emperor: Hadrian Inspects the Wall as well as Hadrian: Empire and Conflict, was an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to various local communities in a positive and meaningful manner.
The impact
The Face of an Emperor: Hadrian Inspects the Wall touring exhibition exposed the BP & British Museum partnership to a much wider audience, reinforced by an extensive marketing campaign. It also contributed to a marked increase in visitor numbers to the two regional museums as well as in tourism to Hadrian’s Wall during the period of the exhibitions.
"We are extremely proud that BP's partnership with the British Museum enabled the inaugural preview tour, Face of an Emperor: Hadrian Inspects the Wall, which brought an object of historical and local significance to regional communities and created new and lasting relationships." Ian Adam, Director, UK Social & Community Affairs, BP