Tate
Tate is the UK's national gallery of international modern and contemporary art, operating four public galleries (Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives) housing 70,000+ artworks and serving general public visitors, members, schools, and corporate sponsors through exhibitions, retail, hospitality, and education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1897
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tate does
Tate is the United Kingdom's national gallery of international modern and contemporary art, operating as an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Founded in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art and renamed after its benefactor Sir Henry Tate, the institution runs a network of four galleries: Tate Britain (Millbank, London, headquarters), Tate Modern (Bankside, London, housed in the former Bankside Power Station), Tate Liverpool (temporarily at RIBA North, Mann Island, during a major £58m+ redevelopment of the Albert Dock site led by 6a architects), and Tate St Ives (Cornwall). The collection comprises more than 70,000 artworks, with full online database access, plus a research library tracing art history to 1500, an archive of British art since 1900, and peer-reviewed publications including Tate Papers.
Tate operates a hybrid revenue model combining DCMS grant-in-aid with multiple self-generated streams. Commercial activity runs through Tate Enterprises Ltd, the wholly-owned trading subsidiary that operates the online shop (shop.tate.org.uk, powered by Salesforce Commerce Cloud) and physical gallery shops, supported by international delivery partners (Royal Mail, UPS, DPD, FedEx, DHL). The membership programme offers paid tiers from £8/month (Member) through Member Plus Guest, Life Membership, and Patrons, while Tate Collective provides free membership for 16–25 year olds at £5 exhibition tickets. Exhibition ticketing (e.g., Frida Kahlo at £49 general / £24 member), food and beverage venues at Tate Modern (Restaurant & Bar, Corner, Espresso Bar, Riverside Terrace, Level 10), educational programmes for schools and families, Tate Kids digital platform, and corporate sponsorships (Hyundai Turbine Hall Commission, UNIQLO Tate Play, Gucci Changemakers, Frieze) round out the income base.
The institution is currently pursuing a £150 million endowment campaign targeting completion by 2030 to secure long-term financial sustainability amid declining public funding. Notable 2026 programming includes the Frida: The Making of an Icon exhibition co-curated with the Museum of Fine Arts of Houston, Tracey Emin: A Second Life at Tate Modern, and Zineb Sedira's Tate Britain Commission. No proprietary AI/ML systems or technology platforms are disclosed; the digital infrastructure relies on off-the-shelf commerce, reservations (SevenRooms), returns (Centiro), and security tooling.
Tate firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tate
- Legal name
- The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery
- Website
- https://tate.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1897
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Tate is the UK's national gallery of international modern and contemporary art, operating four public galleries (Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives) housing 70,000+ artworks and serving general public visitors, members, schools, and corporate sponsors through exhibitions, retail, hospitality, and education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tate industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Art Museum / National Gallery
- NAICS
- Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art Museums (THAJADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)
Keywords
Where Tate is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Tate business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Membership and Patrons: Tate offers various membership tiers including Member, Member plus Guest, and Member plus Guest plus Extra Card, as well as Life Membership and Trial Membership. Membership provides benefits including free exhibition entry, Members Rooms access, Tate Etc. magazine, and shop discounts. Patrons represent a higher-tier support category.
- Retail and Merchandise: Tate operates retail shops both in-gallery and online through shop.tate.org.uk, selling art prints, books, gifts, fashion items, homeware, art supplies, and limited editions.
- Exhibition Tickets: Visitors purchase tickets for special exhibitions such as the Frida Kahlo exhibition (£49 general, £24 for Members), guided tours, and special events.
- Food and Beverage: Tate operates restaurants, bars, cafes, and espresso bars at its galleries, including the Tate Modern Restaurant & Bar with panoramic views, Corner venue, Riverside Terrace, and Level 10 spaces.
- Donations and Fundraising: Tate receives donations from visitors and supporters, with a £150 million endowment campaign targeting completion by 2030 to secure long-term financial sustainability.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners sponsor exhibitions, programs, and capital projects. Examples include Hyundai (Turbine Hall Commission), UNIQLO (Tate Play), and various food and beverage collaborations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Member - Individual membership with free exhibition entry |
| Subscription | Annual | Tate Liverpool / St Ives Extra Card add-on |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Frida Kahlo: The Making of an Icon exhibition ticket |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Mushroom Masterclass workshop |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | KOL at Tate Modern dining experience |
| Freemium | Subscription | Tate Collective (16-25 year olds) |
| Freemium | Subscription | Tate Kids educational programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Tate product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tate operates four UK art galleries (Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives) housing national collections of British and international modern and contemporary art, offering free admission to permanent collections and paid ticketed exhibitions. The institution runs a subscription Membership programme, sells art prints, books, gifts and merchandise via shop.tate.org.uk and on-site retail, and delivers education programmes (Schools, Tate Kids, Tate Collective for 16–25 year olds), research through Tate Library and Archive, and hospitality venues at gallery sites.
Product overview
Tate is the United Kingdom's primary national gallery of modern and contemporary art, operating as a network of four gallery locations: Tate Modern (London), Tate Britain (London), Tate Liverpool (temporarily at RIBA North during redevelopment), and Tate St Ives (Cornwall). The Tate's product portfolio centres on gallery admission—offering free access to permanent collections and charging for major temporary exhibitions—and extends across several connected services. Tate Members is a subscription membership programme (from £8/month) providing unlimited exhibition entry, Members Rooms access, Members Hours, Tate Etc. magazine, Tate Guide, and 10% shop discount, alongside a free Tate Collective scheme for visitors aged 16-25 offering discounted £5 tickets. The Tate Online Shop (shop.tate.org.uk) is a comprehensive e-commerce platform selling art prints, exhibition books, fashion and homeware, limited editions, and custom prints, alongside physical gallery shops. Tate Kids provides free digital games, quizzes, and films for children, while the Schools and Education Programmes offer structured learning from early years through higher education. Tate Research encompasses the Library, Archive, Tate Papers journal, fellowship programmes, and studentships. Tate's hospitality portfolio includes the Restaurant & Bar, Corner venue, Espresso Bar, and Riverside Terrace at Tate Modern, featuring exhibition-inspired collaborations. Tate Liverpool is undergoing a major redevelopment with the gallery temporarily housed at RIBA North, Mann Island.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tate Galleries (Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives) Four UK gallery locations offering free admission to permanent collection displays and paid ticketed access to special exhibitions. Tate Modern (Bankside, London), Tate Britain (Millbank, London), Tate Liverpool (temporarily at RIBA North, Mann Island during redevelopment), and Tate St Ives (Cornwall).
- Exhibitions and Collection Displays Rotating exhibitions and collection displays across all Tate galleries featuring international modern and contemporary art. Major upcoming exhibitions include Frida Kahlo: The Making of an Icon (Tate Modern), Tracey Emin: A Second Life (Tate Modern), James McNeill Whistler (Tate Britain), Hurvin Anderson (Tate Britain), and Zineb Sedira Tate Britain Commission 2026.
- Tate Members (Membership Programme) Annual and monthly membership providing unlimited free entry to all exhibitions, Members Rooms access, Members Hours, Tate Etc. magazine, Tate Guide, 10% shop discount, and special events. Types include Member, Member Plus Guest, Member Plus Guest Plus Extra Card, Life Membership, and Trial Membership from £8/month.
- Tate Online Shop E-commerce platform (shop.tate.org.uk) selling art prints, exhibition books, fashion items, homeware, gifts, art supplies, limited edition artworks, and custom prints. Operates alongside physical gallery shops with free standard UK delivery on orders over £60 and international shipping to 100+ countries.
- Tate Kids Free digital platform for children featuring games, quizzes, films, and creative activities designed to make art accessible and engaging for young audiences.
- Tate Collective Free membership scheme for young people aged 16-25 offering £5 tickets to all exhibitions, 20% discount on food and drink, and 10% off in the Tate Shop.
- Tate Etc. Quarterly members' magazine covering art, artists, cultural movements, and Tate exhibition previews, delivered as part of Membership.
- Tate Research (Library, Archive, Tate Papers) Research infrastructure including Tate Library (art research since 1500), Tate Archive (British art history since 1900), Tate Papers peer-reviewed journal, Reading Rooms, Prints and Drawings Rooms, Brooks International Fellowship Programme, Tate International Research Fellowship, and Tate Studentships.
- Schools and Education Programmes Educational offerings including school visits, workshops, courses, Story Space, Toddle Tate, UNIQLO Tate Play activities, and learning resources for early years through higher education.
- Tate Modern Restaurant & Bar Fine dining restaurant on Level 6 of the Natalie Bell Building at Tate Modern with panoramic Thames views, serving Modern British seasonal menus. Features limited-time chef collaborations inspired by exhibitions, including Santiago Lastra's Frida Kahlo-inspired five-course tasting menu (£350 per person).
- Tate Modern Food & Drink Venues (Corner, Espresso Bar, Riverside Terrace, Level 10) Additional F&B outlets at Tate Modern: Corner (cafe/bar/event venue), Natalie Bell Building Espresso Bar (coffee and snacks), Riverside Terrace (wood-fired pizza and craft beers), and Level 10 (drinks and snacks).
- Tate Library Artist's Book Collection Commission programme within Tate Library acquiring innovative and experimental Artist's Books for the collection, supporting artists and making works available for research.
Quantifiable outcome
- 19+ million visitors to Hyundai Commission series since 2000
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Tate
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tate technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Tate partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Museum of Fine Arts of HoustoncoreCollaborated with Tate Modern on the Frida Kahlo exhibition 'Frida: The Creation of an Icon', co-curated by Beatriz García-Velasco and Tobias Ostrander.
- 6a architectscore6a architects (founded by Tom Emerson and Stephanie Macdonald in 2001) is leading the redesign of Tate Liverpool. The practice has gained international reputation for innovative re-use of existing buildings for cultural and educational projects, including South London Gallery and MK Gallery.
- UNIQLOmajorPartnership for UNIQLO Tate Play program featuring Make Studio workshops and creative activities for families, including the Memory Make Studio at Tate Modern.
- KOL / Santiago LastramajorChef Santiago Lastra's KOL restaurant collaboration with Tate Modern, creating Frida Kahlo-inspired five-course tasting menu and exhibition dining experiences.
- Verdant BrewingminorCollaboration with Verdant Brewing to create two special-edition beers (Would Give Her Flowers lager and Tender Thorns IPA) inspired by the Frida Kahlo exhibition.
- Future YardminorCollaboration with Birkenhead music venue Future Yard for 'Selector: Music From The Age of Spiritual Machines' series curated by Mark Leckey, presented in partnership with Tate Liverpool.
- National GallerycoreDeepening collaborative framework including collection sharing partnership between Tate and National Gallery for mutual benefit.
- Avant ArteminorArt print sales partnership through Avant Arte platform, exploring new revenue streams for art institutions.
- Frieze LondonminorTate receives acquisition funds totaling £150,000 through Frieze partnership for artwork acquisitions and curator fellowship grants.
- Gucci ChangemakersminorGucci Changemakers London supports Tate Collective Producers program, funding youth engagement and programming at Tate Britain Late events.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tate competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The largest art museum in the US and one of the most-visited museums globally. Operates a comparable mix of permanent collection, ticketed exhibitions, retail, membership, and endowment-driven funding model — broader in scope than Tate but institutionally analogous.
Regional players
- Museo Nacional del Prado: Spain's national art museum and one of Europe's leading art institutions. Comparable to Tate in national-museum status, free general admission, signature exhibition programming, and major retail operation, but serves a different primary geographic market.
Direct peers
- The National Gallery: The UK's other national art gallery, located in Trafalgar Square, London. While Tate focuses on British art from 1500 and international modern/contemporary, the National Gallery covers Western European painting from the 13th–19th centuries. They are direct peers in mission, government sponsorship, and London visitor base, and have a formal collection-sharing partnership.
- Centre Pompidou: Paris's national museum of modern and contemporary art. Directly comparable to Tate Modern in mission (20th–21st century art), national-museum status, large-scale exhibitions, and European visitor base. Faces similar structural funding and modernization pressures.
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): New York's leading modern and contemporary art museum. MoMA is the closest international analogue to Tate Modern in terms of curatorial focus on modern/contemporary art, retail/shop scale, membership model, and exhibition pricing. Both operate as flagship destinations for modern art globally.
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: Iconic modern and contemporary art museum with global network. Comparable to Tate Modern in curatorial focus, brand recognition, premium ticketed exhibitions, retail operation, and membership-driven revenue model.
- National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.): The US national art museum, covering Western art from the Middle Ages to present. Closely comparable to Tate in national-museum status, scale of collection, free general admission, exhibition programming, and educational/research mission.
- Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A): London's national museum of art and design, also an NDPB under DCMS with free admission. Directly comparable in scale, governance structure, retail operation, and UK national-museum positioning, though with a broader decorative-arts curatorial scope.
- British Museum: London-based national museum covering human history, art, and culture. Like Tate, it is an NDPB sponsored by DCMS with free general admission, major exhibition programming, and a global brand. A directly comparable UK national museum peer.
Emerging players
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: Amsterdam's museum of modern and contemporary art and design. Comparable to Tate Modern in curatorial focus on modern/contemporary work, retail operation, and membership model, but on a smaller institutional scale than Tate's national gallery network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tate social profiles
Digital presenceTate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tate leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Tate subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Tate funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tate M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tate
What does Tate do?
Tate operates four UK art galleries (Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives) housing national collections of British and international modern and contemporary art, offering free admission to permanent collections and paid ticketed exhibitions. The institution runs a subscription Membership programme, sells art prints, books, gifts and merchandise via shop.tate.org.uk and on-site retail, and delivers education programmes (Schools, Tate Kids, Tate Collective for 16–25 year olds), research through Tate Library and Archive, and hospitality venues at gallery sites.
Is Tate a public or private company?
Tate is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Tate founded?
Tate was founded in 1897. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Tate based?
Tate is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Tate make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership and Patrons are the primary driver. The others are retail and Merchandise, exhibition Tickets, food and Beverage, donations and Fundraising and corporate Partnerships.
Who are Tate's main competitors?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is listed as a broad incumbent. Museo Nacional del Prado is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are The National Gallery, Centre Pompidou, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and British Museum. Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tate have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tate.
What industry is Tate in?
Tate's product category is Art Museum / National Gallery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAA, Art Museums, with a secondary code of THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 712110.