Our 1,238 staff are, of course, fundamental to us delivering Tate Next Generation and our Diversity Strategy. We are fortunate to employ the very best people in all areas and retaining, valuing and developing our staff is hugely important to us. As such we appointed an external agency to undertake a staff survey during this period, following which we have committed to creating and implementing a plan of action.
Plans for our buildings have progressed in 2006–7. Transforming Tate Modern, an expansion on the south side of the building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, was given planning permission. Details for a planned new National Art Collections Centre on the existing Tate Store site have been drawn up. Caruso St John was appointed to develop a masterplan for Tate Britain, including making improvements to the pre-war fabric of the building and to visitor facilities. Tate Liverpool made progress in its project to reconfigure the ground floor to improve visitor facilities ahead of the European Capital of Culture 2008, and we are working more closely than ever before with local groups as we shape the future of Tate St Ives.
As a result of these ambitious plans senior management has been restructured. Two new senior roles have been created and filled. Caroline Collier becomes Director, Tate National in June, focusing on international and national partnerships, and Julian Bird joins us in July as Chief Operating Officer, and will oversee Collection and Programme Services, Resources, Operations and Tate Enterprises. Rebecca Williams was appointed Director of Development to support John Nickson, Director of the Tate Foundation, in raising the funding needed to deliver the vision.
A new division, Collection and Programme Services, comprising Art Services, Conservation, and Library and Archive, and dedicated to the effective care and management of the Collection, was formed, and Chris Woods was appointed Director. The curatorial element of the Collection Division was integrated with the curatorial teams at Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Frances Morris was appointed to the position of Head of Collections (International Art) at Tate Modern and Ann Gallagher to the position of Head of Collections (British Art) at Tate Britain.
In 2006 Tate received the status of Independent Research Organisation, allowing us to apply for funds from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. An additional development in this important area for Tate was the appointment of Nigel Llewellyn as Head of Research. Another major advance was the transformation of Tate Communications into Tate Media, under the direction of Will Gompertz.
The Charity Commission's report into the acquisition of works by Artist Trustees recommended we strengthen our governance procedures for the future. We have made great steps to improve procedures and the Commission has since indicated they are happy with our procedures. Our desire to be as transparent and proactive as possible in sharing information with the public has led to the creation of About Tate, a section online dedicated to information about Tate's structure, governance, reporting, funding, communications, Freedom of Information and more.
