The extraordinary public success of Tate St Ives has been an increasing challenge since the gallery opened in 2003. At peak times visitor numbers have exceeded three times the original estimate, placing considerable strain on the gallery's ability to provide visitor services to Tate standards. As a consequence, one of the focuses of this biennium has been an exploration of the feasibility of extending the facilities at Tate St Ives, conducted in partnership with Cornwall County Council and Penwith District Council. An options appraisal concluded in 2004 resulted in the appointment of Jamie Fobert Architects early in 2005 to design a phase two development to the building on an adjacent site. Community comment on the scheme when it was exhibited in 2005 has led to a further options appraisal exercise.
Against this context, the team at Tate St Ives continued to deliver a wide-ranging programme of exhibitions and displays, interpretation and educational activities. The programme of artists' commissions embraced photography, sound and ceramics, while major exhibitions with David Nash, Richard Deacon, Tacita Dean and Calum Innes allowed in-depth exploration of a number of contemporary artists. Further insight was shed on the unique artistic heritage of St Ives through exhibitions devoted to the work of Wilhelma Barnes Graham, Dennis Michell, Trevor Bell and Paul Feiler.
In 2006 Light into Colour brought together for the first time some 40 works made by JMW Turner on visits to the south west in the early 1800s. Shown together with American Modernist Ellsworth Kelly, these exhibitions drew very diverse audiences. The highly successful artists' residency programme continued to progress well with Partou Zia, Ged Quinn, Kerstin Kartscher and Nick Evans completing new works which were subsequently exhibited. A new touring programme has also been developed with eight UK organisations presenting the gallery's exhibitions.
This two-year period marks a significant milestone in the evolution of education at Tate St Ives with the backdrop of the Phase II Project and the focus on educational opportunity as integral to the development. As well as supporting the public consultation process, new education programmes reflect the unique relationship that Tate St Ives has with communities in St Ives and Cornwall and its role as a National Gallery in a region. Highlights over the past twoyears include work in the immediate locality with the creation of a new Family Community Super Sunday Programme which has grown out of action research projects with the local Sure Start agencies and St Ives schools to form a regular monthly programme of activities in the Gallery for families. The formal education programme continues to build relationships with Cornwall County Council though Cornwall CPD which is the professional development arm of the Children's, Young People's and Families Service. As well as developing new programmes of Inset for specialist and non-specialist teachers across the primary and secondary sectors and at all stages of their career, Tate St Ives continues to make a major contribution to and work in partnership with the other arts education agencies and organisations in Cornwall.
The exhibitions programme has provided a range of audience development opportunities including Tacita Dean: Berlin Works which was the starting point for a new series of lectures, discussions and screenings in conjunction with University College Falmouth. During the last twoyears we have also developed our high profile classical music event Dialogues in Sight and Sound with a three-day series of talks, concerts and informal music in the gallery exploring the complex relationships between visual art and music in response to the work of artists Mariele Neudecker and Richard Deacon. This ongoing interdisciplinary focus is a collaboration with local composers; the Royal Academy of Music Research and Birkbeck College, University of London. The developing HE programme through the Combined Universities in Cornwall offers the potential to extend and develop the academic programmes in Cornwall and we will continue to consult on and explore new programme strategies to allow Tate St Ives to make the most of this opportunity to build new partnerships and develop new work over the next two years in the context of the Phase II development.
