LONDON.- Tate and Hyundai Motor today announced a major new long-term partnership. Confirmed until 2025, this 11-year partnership is the longest initial commitment from a corporate sponsor in Tate’s history. Hyundai’s support will allow Tate Modern to realise The Hyundai Commission, a new series of site-specific installations by contemporary artists in the iconic Turbine Hall, beginning in autumn 2015.

Since Tate Modern opened in 2000, the Turbine Hall has hosted some of the world’s most memorable and acclaimed works of contemporary art, reaching an audience of millions each year. The way artists have interpreted this vast industrial space has revolutionised public perceptions of contemporary art in the twenty-first century. The annual Hyundai Commission will give artists an opportunity to create new work for this unique context.

This partnership is founded upon Tate and Hyundai’s shared commitment to worldwide innovation. Tate Modern’s programme has become increasingly diverse and international, offering a major platform for art from Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa including film and live art.

Tate’s activities outside the UK also continue to grow, including travelling exhibitions, international loans from its collection, research centres and conferences investigating art from around the world.

To mark the start of this new partnership, Hyundai has joined forces with Tate’s Asia Pacific Acquisitions Committee to support a major acquisition for Tate’s collection, dramatically improving the museum’s holdings of art from Asia. The acquisition consists of nine key works by the renowned South Korean artist Nam June Paik (1932–2006). Often considered the founder of video art, Paik explored humanity’s ever-changing relationship with technology, from radio and television to robotics and computing. A major retrospective was presented at Tate Liverpool in 2010 and this acquisition is the first time the artist’s work has entered Tate’s collection. These nine works span 40 years of his pioneering career and will go on display at Tate Modern later this year.

Today’s announcement coincides with the completion of a newly-built bridge across the top of the Turbine Hall. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, this bridge joins the existing galleries on level 4 of Tate Modern to the new building being developed to the south. Opening to the public in 2016, this project will transform Tate Modern with the Turbine Hall at its heart, offering in due course dramatic new views on The Hyundai Commission.

Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate said: We look forward to working together with Hyundai, exploring the most innovative and creative ideas from around the world. Hyundai’s& commitment to Tate will give us an unprecedented opportunity to plan for the future, and will secure a decade of exciting new Turbine Hall commissions for all Tate Modern’s visitors.

Euisun Chung, Vice Chairman, Hyundai said: At Hyundai, we understand that cars can provide much more than transportation. They can connect with people emotionally and it is this feeling that connects people to great art. This is the nature of our partnership with Tate. We are excited about the new possibilities that lie ahead and are very privileged to be working together with the Tate on this inspiring collaboration.