ABSTRACT
Communicating change became the axiom for the third re-elected Conservative government in 1987, which stated it would widen its programme of economic reform. The new vision for the Tate saw a fresh approach taken to communicating with the press which saw former practices changed or completely redefined. Along with modernising the collection, the organisation itself was subject to a major restructuring programme. The Communications Department replaced Information in 1992 with the aim of fostering better public relations and promoting a wider understanding of the organisation. Bowness was married to Sarah Nicholson, the daughter of the artists Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth. Through the family connection, Bowness worked with Hepworth to create a museum dedicated to her work. Locating the modern foreign art outside of London had earlier been proposed by Bowness. Having visited Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle and Liverpool to talk with local museum workers, politicians and academics, the trustees vetoed the Tate in the North.
