Acrylic paints and primers have been widely used by artists since the early 1960s. They account for approximately 50% of paint sales over the last 30 years and are increasingly the most common priming medium for modern canvases. It is estimated that acrylic materials are present in 30% of Tate’s collection of modern and contemporary paintings. The Tate AXA Art Modern Paints Project aims to find ways in which modern paint artworks can be conserved, in many cases before the signs of aging become apparent. To date, appropriate conservation techniques have been limited. The results of this research will help lead the way in redressing conservation concerns.

Led by Thomas Learner, senior conservation scientist at Tate, the research project will examine the physical and optical properties of acrylic paints and help answer some of the many conservation questions posed by the characteristics of modern paints. Conservators will assess the effectiveness of established cleaning methods, explore potential new techniques and evaluate the long-term implications of cleaning treatments on acrylic works. Dr. Learner will be working with Dr. Bronwyn Ormsby who has been named the AXA Art Research Fellow.

“We are delighted that AXA Art has generously supported three more years of conservation research, recognizing Tate’s leading role in this project,” commented Dr. Learner. “This is the most in-depth modern paints conservation research being carried out internationally and there is a real need for it,” he added. “Tate’s research will be available for public and private collections around the world on how best to conserve modern paint artworks in the future,” Learner concluded.

In support of the project, David Hockney, said: "Oil paint has been used by artists for 600 years, so modern conservators have six centuries of experience to draw on and develop. Acrylics, on the other hand, are little more than half a century old. It is extremely important and very welcomed that Tate's research into the future conservation of these relatively new materials is being done now to ensure these artworks will be kept in good condition for centuries to come."

“Tate is a widely recognized leader in addressing conservation issues posed by modern paints and we are pleased to have the opportunity to play a role in advancing this cutting edge research” commented Christiane Fischer, CEO of AXA Art in the United States. “We look forward to the benefits of the study”, she concluded.

In previous years, the award supported the Ad Reinhardt Research Project in Conjunction with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and The Museum of Modern Art and The AXA Art Conservation Research Project in Conjunction with the Vitra Design Museum.

To further increase understanding and awareness of the Tate AXA Art Modern Paints Project progress updates will be communicated in newsletters developed specifically for AXA Art. Additionally, Tate will hold a series of workshops and presentations to disseminate the results to conservation professionals beginning with Modern Paints Uncovered, an International symposium to be held at Tate Modern, from 16 to 19 May 2006.

Beginning May 15th, a Modern Paints MP3 download with short clips of 10 key works will be available for visitors at Tate Modern in the new Collection displays. The clips will describe the paints used, how they were applied indicate conservation implications. It will also be available at www.tate.org.uk/learning.

The research will conclude with the publication of a User’s Guide on caring for acrylic painted surfaces.

About AXA Art Insurance
AXA Art serves a wide range of clients, from first-time purchasers to the world's most respected collectors, as well as museums, galleries, corporations and public exhibitions. AXA Art insures objects in every active area of serious collecting, that includes paintings, drawings and sculpture to rare stamps, antique furnishings and vintage vehicles. The company’s 50 full-time art historians around the world are augmented by an extensive network of renowned curators, appraisers, conservators, shippers and handlers, and tax consultants. AXA Art maintains offices in New York (headquarters), Atlanta Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and New England, and sister offices in Brussels, Cologne, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich. For more information visit www.axa-art.com

About Tate
Tate is a leading center for research in the arts and in the field of caring for the collection. Research is central to many of Tate's programs. It underpins the acquisition of works of art, their treatment and conservation, the writing of interpretative texts and scholarly publications, and the creation of displays and exhibitions. Research also plays a key role in developing museum policies, understanding Tate's audiences and planning new services. Tate's research program aims to support these varied activities by encouraging innovative projects and fostering partnerships with other museums and academic institutions. Tate Papers, a new online journal, presents scholarly articles about Tate's collection and programs.

For further information, please contact:

Rosalind (Roz) Joseph
Telephone: (718) 710-5181
E-mail: rjoseph@axa-art-usa.com