In defence of the Tate Gallery; a "Patron" is simply a regular donor to
the "New Art" etc. purchase funds - in effect an up-market and
more generous variety of "Friend of the Museum".  Admission to the Tate
is free to everyone, as is access to the archives.  So far as I am aware the
only special privilege of a "Patron" is free access to special
exhibitions (shared with at least 40,000 others - including regular
Friends of the Tate and members of the National Art-Collections Fund,
Museums Association, ICOM etc.) and invitations to previews and special
events.

Patrick Boylan

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On Mon, 10 Jun 1996, Valerie A. Fish wrote:

> Hello,
>
> To add to your information, The Sunday Times in London reported
> yesterday that a Patron of the Tate Gallery has also been implicated
> in the process of altering internal records.  This benefactor gave
> #25,000 to the Tate and was therefore given free access to the
> building.  The article said the police connected the Patron to doctored
> archives that provided false references for fake works of art.  These
> works were then sold at auction for millions.  The Patron has also
> contributed to other organizations, which are now being investigated.
>
> V. Fish
>