CAMPAIGNERS have taken the Tate group — which runs the Tate art galleries— to a tribunal in a bid to force it to disclose the nature of it’s controversial sponsorship deal with oil giant BP.

The two-day information tribunal hearing, which closed yesterday, was sparked by a freedom of information (FOI) request about BP’s longstanding sponsorship of the galleries.

The Tate redacted crucial information in its response, claiming it was commercially sensitive.

Leigh Day lawyer Rosa Curling, representing the campaigners, said: “It is clearly in the public interest that Tate discloses the amount of money it has received from BP.

“Tate has a very clear ethical policy which requires them to take decisions openly and transparently.”

Art activists have previously stormed into Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery, covering themselves in oil in a protest designed to expose BP and Tate’s relationship.

Tate legal head Richard Aydon admitted at the tribunal “protests might intensify” if the true extend to BP’s sponsorship was revealed.

The tribunal’s ruling has been reserved until a later date.