Security alert as climate protestors target paintings 

The National Police Coordination Centre has warned museums and galleries to tighten security after climate activists from the group Just Stop Oil glued themselves to paintings.

During a series of protests at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow and Courtauld Gallery and the National Gallery in London, protesters used superglue to attach themselves to the frames of well-known historic landscape paintings.

Police warned that the group is “highly likely to continue targeting high-value artworks in order to generate further international news coverage for their campaign messaging”, adding there is a possibility of the actions “continuing daily”. 

The first protest took place on 29 June, when two activists attached themselves to the frame of My Heart’s in the Highlands (1860), by Horatio McCulloch, which was on display at Kelvingrove.

On 30 June, two protestors glued themselves to the frame of Peach Trees in Blossom (1889), by Vincent van Gogh, at the Courtauld Gallery. The artwork has been removed from display until the frame can be treated.

And on 4 July, two protestors glued themselves to the frame of The Hay Wain (1821), by John Constable, as well as covering the surface with sheets of paper showing a polluted modern landscape. Some damage to the frame and painting were both successfully repaired.

One of the protesters said that “the disruption will end when the UK government makes a meaningful statement that it will end new oil and gas licenses.”