Tate St Ives
Visiting as a localTate St Ives certainly turns this once quiet fishing harbour into a mecca for visitors from all over the world. Around a quarter of a million people a year visit the iconic gallery overlooking Porthmeor beach, injecting around £11 million into the local economy. Tate is an impressive celebration of modern art and the men and women who lived and worked in the creative St Ives community.
A four-year project to create new space and refurbish the existing building was completed in October 2017 allowing it to open all year round for the first time. The exhibition space has doubled with an additional 600 square metres of galleries and new studios for learning activities. A four-storey extension now floods the gallery with light from six huge skylights and there is an outdoor rooftop garden.
The development will allow Tate St Ives to display the work of influential artists from the area together in one space for the first time, reflecting on the way they contributed to modern art.
The good news is that Cornwall residents can now visit Tate St Ives as many times as they like in a year with a special Locals' Pass. As an introductory offer for this first year, the pass costs £5 and allows unlimited entry to Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, (reopening on Monday 26th March).
You can explore the exhibitions at the gallery including the story of modern art and St Ives and enjoy free activities including those for families.
You can pick up a Locals' Pass at the gallery; you need proof of residence such as a utility bill or driving licence and something with your signature on such as a debit or credit card. You’ll need to show this second form of ID with your Locals' Pass every time you visit. Each pass admits one person and full details are available online.
