LONDON.- Tate Modern today unveils details of its upcoming Birthday Weekender, an unforgettable free celebration of art, music, making and performance to mark the gallery’s 25th anniversary. Running from Friday 9 to Monday 12 May in partnership with UNIQLO, the Birthday Weekender is a chance for everyone to enjoy a long weekend of the very best modern and contemporary art. Alongside the gallery’s world-renowned free displays, visitors can expect live music and DJs, talks, workshops, tours and a host of free experiences alongside special food and drink offers and more.

Live performance and participation will animate the museum. In the galleries, visitors can enjoy a live tarot reading as part of Meschac Gaba’s Museum of Contemporary African Art and a specially commissioned performance by Abbas Zahedi in Gathering Ground, a free exhibition exploring the ecological crisis and social justice. In the Tanks, Lawrence Lek will blend live gameplay and cinematic footage to conjure a near future shaped by sentient AI, and María Magdalena Campos-Pons will lead a new performance responding to the history and architecture of the power station. Throughout the weekend, visitors can also join a series of talks and events in the Starr Cinema with artists including Nalini Malani and Maxime Jean-Baptiste.

Music will keep the party going into the evenings in the Turbine Hall, Corner Café and Terrace Bar. Friday night will be a celebration of young London talent, with a spotlight on South London’s creative communities including DJ sets from Peckham’s Jumbi and Radiate Festival. Saturday evening will see more DJ sets across the gallery programmed by DAYTIMERS and Foundation FM, followed by further live music performances in the Turbine Hall.

Tate Modern’s birthday weekend is the perfect time to get inspired by the free collection displays. Louise Bourgeois’ giant bronze spider Maman – the first work to greet visitors when the gallery opened in 2000 – will return to the Turbine Hall bridge. There will also be a new trail of 25 key works installed around the building, showcasing iconic artworks like Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych and Salvador Dalí’s Lobster Telephone alongside new additions to Tate’s collection by artists including Outi Pieski, Edgar Calel and Nalini Malani.

All weekend long, visitors can join 10-minute talks and free tours throughout the building and get creative with UNIQLO Tate Play’s drop-in family workshops. There will also be a collaborative UNIQLO Tate Shop open from 5 May to 16 September, featuring UNIQLO’s popular UTme! customisable T-shirt station and personalised embroidery as well as art-inspired activities and workshops. This shop will also see the launch of a new range of UTme! T-shirts in celebration of 25 years of Tate Modern, featuring works by artists such as Louise Bourgeois and Salvador Dali.

Karin Hindsbo, Director of Tate Modern, said “Tate Modern’s birthday isn’t just a moment to reflect on 25 years at the cutting edge – It’s a chance to keep pushing artistic boundaries and to give a platform to the next generation. Our birthday weekend will be a truly public celebration of art and creativity to which everyone is invited. We are incredibly grateful to our longstanding partner, UNIQLO, for their support of the Birthday Weekender, reflecting our shared values and belief that art is for everyone.”

Commenting on the partnership, Koji Yanai, Group Senior Executive Officer, Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. said, “We are honoured and proud to strengthen our global partnership with Tate Modern during their 25th Birthday celebrations. This deep relationship with one of the world's greatest museums is an expression of the UNIQLO LifeWear philosophy of Art For All. We look forward to welcoming customers into the first UNIQLO Tate Shop where they can experience an in-store arts programme alongside our LifeWear products.”