LONDON.- Tate today marks a major milestone as Tate Collective, its free membership scheme for 16 to 25-year-olds, reaches a record 200,000 members, affirming its position as the world’s most popular arts membership scheme for young people. To celebrate, Tate has launched a landmark open call inviting Tate Collective members to create a new artwork for display in Tate Modern, the world’s most visited modern art museum. The selected artist will have their work shown on the gallery walls, alongside renowned figures including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dal and Marina Abramović, offering an unparalleled platform for emerging talent. The only opportunity of its kind in London, this commission reflects Tate's continued commitment to championing young voices and creating pathways for the next generation of artists.
Since 2018, Tate Collective’s ‘open calls’ have showcased the works of young artists around London and Liverpool. Most recently this included the second iteration of Beyond Boundaries – a collaboration between Tate Collective and Better Bankside first launched in 2020 – which this summer saw six artists under 25 create large-scale public murals inspired by Frida Kahlo across Bankside. Moving inside the gallery for the first time, Tate Collective’s latest open call invites young creatives to respond to the rich social history of mural-making, exploring their ability to tell stories, bring people together and imagine different futures. Open for entries until Wednesday 14 October, the winning commission will be selected by a jury chaired by Rosalie Doubal, Senior Curator, International Art, Tate and will go on display at Tate Modern in March 2027.
This autumn also marks 10 years of Tate Modern Lates, one of the UK's most influential arts programmes for young people. Over the past decade, a staggering 870,000 people have attended Late events, taking part in free evenings of live music, artist talks, workshops, film screenings and DJ sets. Since its launch, the programme has reimagined what a gallery can be after hours, creating a space where art, music, film and performance exist in dialogue with one another and where new audiences can encounter culture in unexpected ways. Placing artistic collaboration and experimentation at its heart, Tate Modern Lates have welcomed pioneering performances from the likes of Trisha Brown Dance Company and the London Symphony Orchestra to Joy Crookes, Celeste and Little Simz, whose guest-curated Late in 2024 attracted a record-breaking 18,500 visitors in a single evening.
The celebrations will culminate on Friday 30 October with a special 10th anniversary Tate Modern Late. Inspired by Tate Modern's autumn programme, the Late will celebrate a decade of artistic experimentation with a dynamic evening of live music, performance, talks and workshops. The South Tank will become Club Shy for the night, with acclaimed London based multidisciplinary artist Shygirl programming a special selection of DJs set to a set to a backdrop of visuals inspired by her upcoming album ‘Swallow!’. Renowned for her boundary-crossing practice spanning music, performance, fashion and visual culture, Shygirl has become one of the UK's most influential creatives, celebrated internationally for her genre-defying sound, collaborative approach and immersive live experiences. Other highlights include a Terrace Bar takeover by Warp Records, a colourful and collaborative workshop by visual artist Lakwena, performance poetry and more. Together, the programme will create new dialogues with Frida: The Making of an Icon, Ana Mendieta, Julio Le Parc: Light, Colour, Action, Hyundai Commission: Tarek Atoui and Light & Magic: The Birth of Art Photography.
Karin Hindsbo, Interim Director of Tate, said: “We are very excited that we now have 200,000 young members of Tate Collective. They represent a generation of young people who are choosing to engage with art, ideas and community. This new commission embodies what Tate Collective is all about: creating meaningful opportunities for young people to be part of culture, not just as audiences, but as contributors and creators. We want Tate to be a place where young people feel welcomed, represented and inspired, but also empowered to experiment and help shape the future of art itself."
