Tate Modern bags government windfall
- Published: 05 December 2007 11:20
- Author: Richard Waite
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- Last Updated: 05 December 2007 11:52
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The government has pledged to cough up almost a quarter of the cash needed to build Herzog and de Meuron's ambitious £215 million Tate Modern extension (pictured).
The £50 million windfall, which will only be handed over if the London gallery can raise the rest of the funds, was unveiled by culture minister James Purnell this morning (5 December).
It is hoped the cash injection will help the project to complete in 2012, to coincide with the opening of the London Olympic Games.
Purnell said: 'Many will have cheered inwardly when this scheme was given planning permission. Many, like me, couldn't believe it had been pulled off.
'This money [part of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's Comprehensive Spending Review Settlement] will act as a firm symbol of our commitment to this venture.'
He added: 'This is an opportunity to create one of the most truly amazing buildings in the world'.
Earmarked for the site directly behind the South Bank building, the scheme is currently going through detailed design – a process Tate director Nick Serota admitted could take between a year and 18 months.
Serota added that there could be further changes to the project, in particular to the 'skin', before construction starts as scheduled in 2009.
So, in an intriguing move, the gallery has launched a new online blog allowing people from around the world to help shape the interior of the extension.
The public can post photos of their favourite spaces on the Great Tate Mod Blog which, Serota said, would be taken into account in further designs.
