Gustav Klimt exhibition draws record crowds to Tate Liverpool

Aug 12 2008 Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

One of the stunning Gustav Klimt painting at the Tate entitled

CROWDS are still flocking in record-breaking numbers to see Tate Liverpool’s Gustav Klimt exhibition.

With just under three weeks left of Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and Modern Life in Vienna 1900, it has been revealed that more than 150,000 people have bought tickets to see it since it began on May 30.

Some 134,319 people have seen the exhibition so far, with 151,621 tickets sold to date.

A spokesperson for the Tate said the “figures far exceed those of any other exhibition” ever held there.

Despite tickets for the Klimt exhibition costing £8, by the time the exhibition ends on August 31 it will at least double the previous visitor attendance record, for last year’s free Turner Prize exhibition, which drew 71,804 people.

Tate director Christoph Grunenberg said: “The incredible popularity of the Gustav Klimt exhibition has been a major boost for Tate Liverpool in what has already been an exceptional year.”

“This has been one of the most ambitious and challenging exhibitions ever staged by Tate which would not have been possible without the support of the Liverpool Culture Company and the positive impact of European Capital of Culture.”

Around 42% of Tate visitors are from the North West, and 50% are from elsewhere in the UK, according to early statistics. International press from Austria to New York and Brazil to Australia have reported from the gallery.

Until the end of the Klimt exhibition the gallery is open seven days a week (it usually remains closed on Mondays, except for Bank Holidays) from 10am.

From Tuesday to Saturday this month, there is unprecedented late opening until 9pm, including the final Klimt- inspired Late at Tate evening, with special talks and entertainment, on Thursday, August 28.

Klimt-mania has had a knock-on effect throughout the Tate, with shop sales increasing five-fold in line with the exhibition, and the cafe seeing four times as many customers through the doors.

The shop has already sold over 3,000 magnets, 800 ties and 300 satin scarves.

Mr Grunenberg added: “While we expected the exhibition to be popular, attendance has far exceeded expectations. Most importantly, it has brought lots of visitors from all over the country and from Europe to Liverpool, many experiencing for the first time what a wonderful city this is and what impressive cultural attractions it can offer.”

By halfway through Capital of Culture year, visitor figures stood at 461,287, already up 53.5% on the same time in 2007.

In June it became the single most visited tourist attraction in the city.

The Klimt exhibition has been a runaway success despite the absence of the artist’s best-known work, The Kiss, which has remained on display at the Osterreichische Galerie Belvedere in Vienna.

It is thought, like a growing number of the artist’s works, to be too precious to travel.

After the Tate exhibition ends, experts believe it is unlikely the original pieces will ever be seen in the UK again.