ritish Museum to Launch “Pink Ball” to Raise Funds for Global Partnerships
The British Museum has announced its inaugural Pink Ball, a gala event scheduled for October 18, 2025, with the aim of raising funds to support its expanding international collaborations and cultural initiatives.
A New Cultural Fundraiser
The themed “Pink Ball” is intended to be more than a high-profile social event—it seeks to become a permanent fixture on London’s cultural calendar.
Proceeds from the event will be directed toward the museum’s global partnerships rather than its physical redevelopment projects.
Tickets are priced at £2,000 per guest, and the ball is expected to host approximately 800 invite-only participants.
The venue will include the museum’s galleries and Great Court, with guests dining amid iconic artefacts and enjoying performances and auctions throughout the evening.
Spotlight on Cultural Exchange
The museum’s leadership has framed the ball as a celebration of global connections. Director Nicholas Cullinan stated that it underscores the institution’s ambition to expand access and collaboration with cultural organizations around the world.
Among the museum’s existing international ties are partnerships with cultural institutions in Ghana, Armenia, and exchanges involving the Bayeux Tapestry.
Additionally, the museum is engaged in archaeological work and heritage projects in places such as Benin City (Nigeria) and Girsu (Iraq).
The ball is also intended to draw attention to and support more of these cross-cultural ventures.
Committee, Theme & Artistic Highlights
The ball’s organizing committee features prominent figures from the worlds of art, fashion, and philanthropy, including Isha Ambani as co-chair, as well as names like Naomi Campbell, Zadie Smith, Idris Elba, and Miuccia Prada.
The color theme is drawn from the exhibition “Ancient India: Living Traditions” and is meant to evoke the region’s hues, while avoiding overly commercial or toy-like connotations.
Entertainment will include musical performances by Anoushka Shankar and Jules Buckley. A silent auction will run in parallel to the evening’s program.
Criticism and Ethical Concerns
Despite the glamor of the event, it has drawn criticism from advocacy groups questioning the museum’s associations and funding sources. The climate campaign group Culture Unstained singled out the involvement of Reliance Industries, tied to Isha Ambani’s family, as problematic given its fossil fuel operations.
The group accused the museum of “deepening ties” with the oil and gas industry and urged greater scrutiny of ethics in cultural sponsorship.
In response, museum officials defended the necessity of philanthropic and corporate support to maintain operations and expand cultural reach, while also warning that overzealous restrictions might limit the sector’s financial viability.