BMW and Tate Modern London have announced a major partnership called BMW Tate Live. The four-year project will explore modern performance, interdisciplinary art and curating digital space.

Photo: blog.tate.org.uk, Jérôme Bel © Feran Mc Rope

A series of artist performances created specifically to be broadcast ‘live’ online will mark the launch of the project. Each performance will take place in a dedicated gallery-cum-studio space at Tate Modern, but they will be ‘tailored’ for the online audience and there will be no audience physically present in the space, says Tate’s blog. The online format will provide audience the opportunity to experience new works first-hand and to discuss it.

There will be five performances in 2012. The series will kick off with a commission by French choreographer, Jérôme Bel in March 2012. The choreographer’s works explore the relationship between performer and spectators, and the role of dance within culture, often using humor.

Other commissions will include both emerging and famous artists ranging from visual artists to choreographers. The performances will run on Tate’s online channel as BMW Tate Live: Performance Room.

«I am delighted that we will partner with BMW on this important new initiative,» said Chris Dercon, Director, Tate Modern. «Not only is Tate’s program and Collection becoming increasingly international, so is our audience, and we need to work to find new ways to present our programme to them on new channels. The development of technology has transformed people’s approach to art. Audiences today expect more interaction, participation and personalisation than ever before. BMW Tate Live will answer this need. BMW Tate Live will bring live art performance directly to people on the web, wherever they are in the world.»

Another automaker’s longterm project, The BMW Guggenheim Lab, has launched in August. It offers free programs that explore the challenges of today’s cities within an innovative mobile structure that was designed to house this urban experiment.