OVER 8.4 MILLION VISITORS CAME TO TATE’S FOUR GALLERIES IN THE PAST YEAR
Tate today announced that it had more visitors in 2016/17 than in any previous year. Over 8.4 million visits were made to its four sites in London, Liverpool and St Ives between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017. Karen Bradley MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, came to Tate Britain to meet Tate’s new Director Maria Balshaw and to congratulate those who work at the galleries.
The past year saw the opening of the new Tate Modern in June 2016, following the completion of the RIBA award-winning Blavatnik Building. Brand new displays were presented, featuring over 300 artists from over 50 countries around the world. Other highlights included Tate Britain’s David Hockney retrospective, which became the most popular exhibition in the gallery’s history with over 478,000 visitors, and the display of Tracey Emin’s My Bed at Tate Liverpool. The refurbished Tate St Ives reopened at the very end of this period in March 2017, ahead of its new galleries opening this October.
Karen Bradley, Culture Secretary said:
‘Tate has had an incredible year and has shown once more why it is one of the world’s best art galleries. It has a vital role to play in increasing access to our national art collection, both in London and across the country, and so I am delighted there have been a record number of visits to its four galleries. I’m sure this success will continue under the direction of Maria Balshaw, who will bring her own vision and energy to this important British institution.’
Maria Balshaw, Director, Tate said:
‘I’m delighted that Tate has had such a great year and that we are reaching such a wide audience. Art has the power to change people’s lives for the better, whether it’s a must-see exhibition of modern masterpieces or a family workshop with a local artist. In my first few weeks at Tate, I’ve already seen how passionately our visitors feel about these galleries and how inspiring it is to spend time here.’
For press information please contact pressoffice@tate.org.uk or call +44(0)20 7887 8730