Sotheby’s and Tate: Our High Level Engagement Partnership
‘Sotheby’s is proud to be a long-term partner of Tate. Each year their dynamic exhibition programme captures the imagination of millions of visitors from around the world, demonstrating the transformative power of art.’
James Sevier, European Head of Contemporary Art, Sotheby’s
Following over 12 years of Sotheby’s support of the Tate Britain Commission, Sotheby’s and Tate have enjoyed a High Level Engagement partnership. With a programme of activities tailored exclusively for Sotheby’s, this partnership enables them to come together with Tate expertise on a year round basis, bringing Tate exhibitions to life and unlocking experiences only available to Tate’s Corporate Partners.
Through their partnership, Sotheby’s have hosted Curator and Tate expert-led experiences across the breadth of Tate’s galleries. These opportunities have aligned with Tate exhibition openings and major moments in London’s cultural calendar, enabling extraordinary invitations to gain intimate insight into Tate’s programme, including Paula Rego, Lubaina Himid, Life Between Islands, Walter Sickert, and Capturing the Moment.
As a charity, High Level Engagement Partnerships such as this are crucial to supporting Tate’s mission of championing access to art for all, providing vital funding for Tate’s core activities.
Sotheby’s: The Tate Britain Commission
From 2007 – 2019, Sotheby’s supported the Tate Britain Commission, an annual exhibition inviting a British artist to make new work in response to Tate’s collection of British and international art and to the grand spaces of the Duveen Galleries at Tate Britain.
Sotheby’s support allowed the Commission to become an annual event, placing engagement with contemporary art at the heart of Tate Britain’s programme. Previous Tate Britain Commission artists include Mike Nelson, Anthea Hamilton, Cerith Wyn Evans, Pablo Bronstein, Christina Mackie, Phyllida Barlow, Simon Starling, Patrick Keiller, Fiona Banner, Eva Rothschild and Martin Creed.