Shell Signs Deal with Bolshoi Theater

Energy giant Shell has signed a sponsorship agreement with the State Academic Bolshoi Theater. According to the agreement, between 2004 and 2007 Shell will be an official sponsor of the theater. The allocations of Shell will be spent on artistic projects of the theater.

The sum of the planned allocations of Shell to the Bolshoi Theater has not been disclosed. According to the CEO of Shell in Russia, John Barry, the sum of the deal corresponds to the size of the companies that signed the agreement. He adds that the company will not influence the artistic activities of the theater.

General Director of the Bolshoi Theater Iksanov explains that the main criteria for choice of the sponsors for the theater are importance of companies, their prestige and reputation. Iksanov stresses that only serious companies with high reputation and transparent budget can be chosen as sponsors of the Bolshoi Theater. However, he adds that the theater does not set a task of endless increase of the number of its sponsors.