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Over 300 artists back Tate strikers, demand bailout funds save jobs

institutional · 2026-04-20

More than 300 artists, among them Turner Prize laureates Mark Leckey (2008) and 2019 winners Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Helen Cammock, Oscar Murillo, and Tai Shani, have signed a letter in solidarity with striking workers at Tate. This correspondence calls for Tate to dedicate 10% of its £7 million government bailout to safeguard jobs. On 11 August, Tate Enterprises (TEL) revealed intentions to eliminate 313 positions across its sites in London, Liverpool, and St Ives. The workforce contends that funding for the arts is failing to maintain employment, with a disproportionate impact on low-income, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multilingual staff. The letter insists on preserving jobs and refraining from outsourcing, highlighting that senior staff members earn over £100,000. A spokesperson for Tate noted a £50 million revenue deficit this year.

Key facts

  • Over 300 artists signed an open letter supporting striking Tate workers
  • Signatories include former Turner Prize winners Mark Leckey (2008) and 2019 joint winners Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Helen Cammock, Oscar Murillo, Tai Shani
  • The letter demands Tate use 10% of its £7 million government bailout to stop redundancies
  • Tate Enterprises announced 313 job cuts on 11 August across publishing, shops, cafes, and restaurants in London, Liverpool, and St Ives
  • Workers argue government arts support funds are not saving jobs, making precarious workers pay for the COVID-19 crisis
  • The letter highlights multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multilingual low-income workers as most affected
  • It demands no redundancies while senior staff earn over £100,000 and urges TEL to explore new ways to save jobs
  • Tate cites a £50 million income shortfall, with measures like budget cuts, recruitment freezes, and executive pay reductions

Entities

Artists

  • Mark Leckey
  • Lawrence Abu Hamdan
  • Helen Cammock
  • Oscar Murillo
  • Tai Shani

Institutions

  • Tate
  • Tate Enterprises (TEL)
  • The Guardian

Locations

  • London
  • Liverpool
  • St Ives
  • United Kingdom

Sources