History

The American Patrons of Tate is an independent charity that supports the work of Tate in the United Kingdom. It does this in two ways: Firstly, by acquiring works of art to lend and eventually gift to Tate; secondly by raising money to grant to Tate.

The charity was founded in 1987 when Sir Edwin and Lady Manton created the American Fund for the Tate Gallery, a restricted endowment to acquire works of art from North and South America for presentation to Tate. This endowment has purchased seminal works by artists including John Baldessari, Louise Bourgeois, Philip Guston, Joan Jonas, Bruce Nauman, Hélio Oiticica, Cy Twombly, Cindy Sherman, David Smith, Jeff Wall and Lawrence Weiner.

During the late 1990’s American collectors were extraordinarily generous in helping build Tate Modern and in 1999 the American Patrons of Tate formally opened offices in New York to strengthen links with the American collecting community. It launched the North American Acquisitions Committee in 2001 to help acquire contemporary American art and acquired works from such artists as Roni Horn, Louise Lawler, Josiah McElheny, Raymond Pettibon, Robert Smithson and Kara Walker. In response to Tate’s wish to acquire work from South America, a Latin American Acquisitions Committee was formed in 2003 to acquire contemporary art from South America. It has proved a significant force and has acquired works from such artists Maria Fernada Cardoso, Lygia Clark, Eugenio Dittborn,Victor Grippo, Guillermo Kuitca and Hélio Oiticica,

Collectors have made generous gifts of art which now grace the walls of Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Some of these gifts include works by John Constable, Dan Flavin, Gilbert & George, David Smith, Ellsworth Kelly, John Currin, Alice Neel and Richard Tuttle.

In addition to acquiring art, the American Patrons of Tate makes grant of around $3 million a year to Tate using funds that it has raised. It has supported numerous programs at Tate particularly in the fields of scholarship, exhibitions and education.

John Wonnacott

Sir Edwin Manton 2000

Oil on Canvas 61 x 51 cm (24 x 28 inches)

© Agnew's, London

Presented by a group of subscribers including Jeanne Donovan Fisher, Charlotte and Dennis Stevenson, Mr and Mrs Henry Christensen, David Meitus and Angela Westwater, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild and Julie and Lawrence Salander in recognition of Sir Edwin Manton's generosity to Tate.