• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

Meet a 71-year-old who retired as a radiologist and professor, and now runs a banana-skewer business: ‘I never want to retire. Why would you do that?’

3

Elon Musk’s DOGE swiped $329 million in humanitarian funding from Nepal, leaving a Gen Z tech revolution to transform the budding country’s economy

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

Meet a 71-year-old who retired as a radiologist and professor, and now runs a banana-skewer business: ‘I never want to retire. Why would you do that?’

3

Elon Musk’s DOGE swiped $329 million in humanitarian funding from Nepal, leaving a Gen Z tech revolution to transform the budding country’s economy
sackler family

Second British Art Gallery Pledges to Reject Donations From Purdue Pharma’s Sackler Family

By
Renae Reints
Renae Reints
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Renae Reints
Renae Reints
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 22, 2019, 2:43 PM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

A group of British art galleries has become the second art institution to refuse donations from the Sackler family this week, citing the family’s connection to the prescription drug OxyContin and its role in the U.S. opioid epidemic.

The Tate art galleries—which includes Tate Modern and Tate Britain in London, Tate St Ives, and Tate Liverpool—have received £4 million (more than $5.2 million) in donations from the Sackler family in the past, The Guardian reports, but said Thursday they will no longer accept such gifts.

“The Sackler family has given generously to Tate in the past, as they have to a large number of UK arts institutions. We do not intend to remove references to this historic philanthropy,” the Tate said in a statement, according to The Guardian. “However, in the present circumstances, we do not think it right to seek or accept further donations from the Sacklers.”

Members of the Sackler family own the drug making company Purdue Pharma, which makes the addictive painkiller OxyContin. They reportedly made more than $4 billion between 2008 and 2016—the years leading up to President Donald Trump’s declaration that the opioid epidemic is a national emergency.

More than 100 people die from opioid overdoses every day in the U.S., totaling more than 37,000 people per year. A lawsuit against Purdue—which names eight Sackler family members—charges the company with aggressively marketing OxyContin despite knowing its addictive qualities, contributing to the opioid epidemic. The Sacklers and Purdue deny any wrongdoing.

Earlier this week, the National Portrait Gallery in London said it would not accept a 1 million pound ($1.3 million) pledge from a charitable organization run by the Sacklers. American photographer Nan Goldin had told the National Portrait Gallery that she would not allow her work to be displayed there if the institution accepted Sackler funds, The Guardian reports.

While Goldin had not discussed any similar agreements with the Tate galleries, she told The Guardian that she had planned to hold protests alongside her show there had the donations continued.

About the Author
By Renae Reints
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.