Membership has it's benefits

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 15 May 2007 19:27:40

No, I'm not on about church membership (for some strange reason I'm not about to go there this week) but rather I'm talking Tate membership.

Now besides the obvious that you can get into the exhibitions you want to see there are a range of other things I love about it and I think make it a worthwhile investment:

1) Being the tight individual I am it makes me get my arse in gear and go to stuff because I want to get my money's worth. As a result I end up experiencing loads of stuff I wouldn't otherwise - some I think is great whilst other stuff is good for a laugh.

2) You can sun-bathe on the back terrace of the members room at the Tate Modern, with a book and a drink, in the summer and that is one of the best experiences I know (yes I really am that shallow)

3) You get 10% off in the shop and they do facilitate great retail experiences if you are into (i) stationary, (ii) postcards and (iii) cultural studies books

4) Every so often the TATE ETC magazine comes through the door and once you have waded through the endless adverts at the beginning you get to really interesting articles like this one on the iconic nature of certain album covers, like the Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division cover.

5) If you are meeting up with "potential" it gives you something to (i) talk about and (ii) do, which nobody has to actually pay for and is quite enjoyable even if the "potential" isn't quite what you were looking for or visa versa.

6) It is fun to go and live the life for a day every so often