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Gas giant Santos has ended its nearly three decade sponsorship of the popular Darwin Festival, after a lengthy campaign by environmentalists and traditional owners opposed to fossil fuels and fracking. The latest sponsorship deal ended on 31 December 2022.
A spokeswoman for Fossil Free Arts NT, Anna Weekes, said the decision was "welcome news" and showed Santos' "attempts to greenwash its gas projects no longer wash with artists, audiences or the wider community".
A philanthropic coalition made up of 5 foundations sent a letter to the festival board making the formal offer of $200,000 spread over two years, designed to allow the festival time to develop a “new, ethical, sponsorship framework which excludes fossil fuel companies”.
This means the festival must also sever ties with Japanese oil company Inpex to comply with the terms of the offer. It also included a proviso that the festival board gift the naming rights of its opening night concert in Darwin amphitheatre, currently rights held by Santos, to the Larrakia nation, the traditional owners of the greater Darwin region. The deal has however fallen through after concerns about "non-negotiable terms and conditions".
