Artistic and Social Critique

The activist group Brandalism has revealed a series of impactful interventions on billboards around the Wimbledon tennis tournament, criticizing the bank's ties to fossil fuel and arms trade. This campaign highlights the role of billboard advertising in influencing public perception and raising awareness about critical social issues.

Interventions in Outdoor Advertising

More than 300 commercial ads on billboards, subway stations, and bus stops near the tournament have been replaced with artworks that strongly criticize the bank. This innovative use of outdoor media showcases the potential of advertisement companies to deliver powerful messages through creative channels.

Powerful Artworks

A set of artworks featuring the Barclays brand shows a tennis player lying in a pool of blood on a tennis court with a crater, accompanied by the words: "From Gaza to global warming, we’re making a killing." Such striking visuals underscore the effectiveness of billboard advertising in capturing public attention.

Meanwhile, another billboard near the tournament shows a tennis player in white clothes stained with blood and oil, with money bills protruding from their pockets. This demonstrates how advertising sites can be utilized to deliver compelling narratives that challenge corporate practices.

Call to End Barclays Sponsorship

This comes as tournament organizers face growing calls from climate and Palestinian solidarity campaigns to end their sponsorship deal with Barclays, reportedly worth £20 million. The strategic placement of these messages on billboards and other outdoor media forms a critical part of the activists' campaign.

Reactions and Statements from Activists

"When May broke global warming records last month, it was the twelfth consecutive month to do so," said Badvertising campaign activist, Andrew Simms. He emphasized the role of outdoor media in highlighting the environmental impact of major corporations.

"Extreme heat threatens both fans and athletes, and the core business of Wimbledon’s polluting sponsors, Barclays and Jaguar Land Rover, is ensuring more deadly climate extremes to come. If they were players, the match referee would disqualify them for dangerous behavior," he added. This critique reflects the broader responsibilities of advertising agencies in shaping public discourse.

Criticism of Wimbledon’s Association with Barclays

Tony Burdon, CEO of Make My Money Matter, said: "Wimbledon says it is proud of its association with Barclays. But Barclays was the biggest fossil fuel financier in Europe in 2023, the hottest year on record. Barclays is the new Shell, using Wimbledon’s great reputation to whitewash its role in financing the climate crisis."

"No decent organization should be sponsored by Barclays, and if Wimbledon is serious about its legacy and commitment to the environment, then it must drop them." This powerful message, conveyed through billboard advertising, demonstrates the significant influence of advertisement companies and advertising agencies near you in driving social change.