Coronavirus: Britain’s Tate galleries to reopen on July 27

Visitors to the UK’s four Tate museums will need to book a ticket in advance

Tate director Maria Balshaw said the priority remained keeping people safe. PA

Tate has announced plans to reopen its four British galleries on July 27 after closing in March amid the coronavirus outbreak, but with some exhibitions modified or postponed until 2021.

Social-distancing measures will be in place and all visitors, including members, will need to book a timed ticket online in advance, which will be available next week.

In London, Tate Modern will reopen with Andy Warhol and Kara Walker's Hyundai Commission Fons Americanus. Tate Britain will show Aubrey Beardsley and Steve McQueen's Year 3 installation.

Tate Liverpool will display new work by Mikhail Karikis and Tate St Ives will reopen the Naum Gabo exhibition.

Tate director Maria Balshaw said the priority remained keeping people safe.

“We’re all looking forward to welcoming visitors back to Tate. Art and culture play vital roles in our lives and many of us have been craving that irreplaceable feeling of being face-to-face with a great work of art,” she said, in a statement.

Lionel Barber, chairman of Tate, paid tribute to the role of British culture amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“The role of our national cultural institutions is more vital today than ever before. During the closure, Tate’s dedicated staff have found new and creative ways to allow our audiences to enjoy art in the virtual world using our digital platforms,” he said.

“My fellow trustees are delighted that from July 27 the public will once again see Tate’s world-leading collection and exhibitions in person.”

Some of the exhibition date changes include Turner’s Modern World, opening in the autumn at Tate Britain, and Tate Modern opening Zanele Muholi and Bruce Nauman.

Frances Morris, director of Tate Modern, said the reopening had been in the works for months.

“I particularly hope that this reopening moment will bring renewed attention to our world-class collection, which sits at the heart of everything we do here at Tate Modern and which will once again be accessible to everyone for free,” she said.