Big Tobacco in the Big Apple
How New York City Became the Heart of the Tobacco Industry
…and Anti Smoking Activism
Philip Morris Sponsorship of the Arts
The Leading Patron of Culture in New York City (2:54 / 3:31)
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“Precious Legacy”
Advertisement for Philip Morris-sponsored exhibition at Metropolitan Museum of Art
Newsweek, interior pages
1984-1985
“It takes art to make a company great.”
Philip Morris advertisement touting its sponsorship of museum art exhibitions
1985
“[N]ot to take risks is the greatest risk of all.”
Picasso and Braque art exhibition catalogue with introduction by Hamish Maxwell, Philip Morris chairman and CEO
1989
Banner advertising Lincoln Center Festival ’96, sponsored by Philip Morris
Photograph by Alan Blum, MD
1996
Brooklyn Museum of Art
Museum catalogue with introduction by Stephanie French, Philip Morris Vice President of Corporate Contributions and Cultural Programs
1997
Brooklyn Museum of Art driveway entrance sign noting sponsorship by Philip Morris
Photograph by Alan Blum, MD
1996
“The arts provide a kaleidoscope of visions of how beautiful and wonderful the world can be”
Promotional video by Philip Morris touting its sponsorship of the arts
1990
“[I]n a constantly changing marketplace, playing it safe is taking the greatest risk of all.”
Promotional video by Philip Morris touting its sponsorship of the arts
1990
“Sponsoring art is a positive thing”
Promotional video by Philip Morris
1990
“BAM 2006 Next Wave Festival”
Advertisement for Philip Morris-sponsored event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
2006
“New York City Opera is sponsored by Philip Morris Companies Inc.” [1 of 2]
Promotional brochure, New York City Opera
2013
Explore Culture, Tobacco and NYC with the Links Below
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▼ Visit our Exhibitions on Art, Culture, and Tobacco with the links below ▼
Museum Malignancy: Tobacco Sponsorship of the Arts, explores the ways in which Philip Morris has integrated arts sponsorship into its cigarette marketing and corporate image-burnishing. It also illustrates how art museums in particular have been willing partners in this effort. Lastly, it highlights examples of activists and artists who have mocked or shamed leaders of museums for accepting tobacco industry sponsorship money. (Click Here)
Creativity in cigarette marketing reached its zenith in the 1980s when advertising agency owner and art collector Charles Saatchi thought of an entirely new kind of campaign to promote the brand Silk Cut. Inspired by the slashed canvases and punctured metal sculptures of artist Lucio Fontana, the visual puns for the words “silk cut” made it the best-selling cigarette brand in the UK. (Click Here)