Arnolfini is partner in Plus Tate

Plus Tate, a major new national initiative for the visual arts involving Tate and 18 of the UK's most dynamic arts institutions, was launched on 21 October at Tate Modern by Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Joining together to exchange ideas, knowledge, skills and resources, as well as programmes and collections, the Plus Tate partners, along with and facilitated by Tate, will broaden and deepen engagement in modern and contemporary art across the country.

The full list of partners announced is as follows: Arnolfini, Bristol; BALTIC, Gateshead; Cornerhouse, Manchester; firstsite, Colchester; Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea; Grizedale Arts, Cumbria; The Hepworth Wakefield; Ikon, Birmingham; Kettle's Yard, Cambridge; mima, Middlesbrough; Mostyn, Llandudno; Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, Penzance; Nottingham Contemporary; The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney; Towner, Eastbourne; Turner Contemporary, Margate; Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester; and Wysing Arts Centre, Bourn (Cambridge).

The impact of the visual arts on cultural and socio-economic regeneration in the regions has been hugely significant in recent years. Building on the achievements of this sector requires imaginative new models of collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking.

During a pilot phase of the Plus Tate programme in 2009, then known as Tate Connects, several organisations in the network began to set new standards for sector responsibility through a cost-effective and resilient approach to running galleries and arts organisations, exploring together new ways of increasing generated income, setting up staff training and placement schemes, as well as sharing audience research and joint business models. The network has subsequently expanded and now 18 organisations are on board, plus Tate.

Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said:

"In a week where we achieved a good spending settlement for the arts, I am very pleased to be at Tate to launch Plus Tate. It is an outstanding example of initiative, creative thinking and collaboration. The partnership between Tate and these eighteen arts organisations up and down the country will bring huge public benefit, by pooling resources and inspiring people through art."

Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate said:

"The Plus Tate network is central to Tate's vision. Working in partnership, collaborating closely with leading organisations that have high national and international profiles and strong links to their local communities, means we can support their further development and strengthen their hand by sharing with them Tate's resources and Collection. At the same time, we can deepen our own experience by tapping into their particular expertise and inventiveness."

Tom Trevor, Director of Arnolfini, said:

"We are delighted to have been invited to be a partner in the Plus Tate network. This is very good news for Bristol and the South West. Ever closer collaboration and pooling resources with our national peers is essential for the arts, especially at this time of economic austerity, and Plus Tate provides an invaluable forum for developing partnerships and sharing expertise. In particular, access to the Tate's resources and collection is a great asset. Network culture is the future, and Plus Tate is a very positive initiative that signals the way forward for sustaining the arts in these difficult times."

http://www.tate.org.uk/about/ourpriorities/audiences/tatenational/tateconnects/

Published on: 7 December 2010