Tate

Tate is a network of four art galleries across the United Kingdom that holds the national collection of British art and international modern and contemporary art. The original gallery opened in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art in Millbank, London, later renamed Tate Britain after sugar magnate Henry Tate. In 2000, the institution expanded into Tate Modern in the former Bankside Power Station, displaying modern art from 1900 to the present. Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives opened in 1988 and 1993, focusing on modern art and artists connected to their regions. The Tate’s collection grew through major donations, including Henry Tate’s Victorian art and Sir Hugh Lane’s European modern works after the First World War. Architectural expansions in the 20th century, funded by figures like Joseph Duveen and Sir Charles Clore, allowed the gallery to house significant bequests, such as the Turner Bequest. The Turner Prize, awarded annually to British visual artists, has been a high-profile event since its inception. Tate Liverpool hosted the prize in 2007, marking its first appearance outside London. Visitors to Tate Britain explore British art from 1500 to today, while Tate Modern presents modern and contemporary works in a transformed power station. Tate St Ives highlights artists from the St Ives School, and its Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden showcase the sculptor’s work. Tate Liverpool offers modern art in a former warehouse, with temporary exhibitions and public programmes. The galleries share a single collection, with digital resources providing access to artworks and research beyond the physical sites.