Tate Modern

Where contemporary art becomes conversation, and every space sparks a new idea

At Quest & Compass, art is most alive when it’s felt, questioned, and explored with intention. In Tate Modern’s bold spaces, a qualified teacher leads your child through stories, forms, and ideas — sparking insight, creativity, and curiosity beyond the canvas.

This isn’t a checklist of paintings; it’s a private, thought-provoking journey shaped around your child’s interests and perspective.

Why it matters

Art teaches children to pause, look more closely, and think differently about the world around them. Whether it’s a large-scale installation that reshapes how they feel in a space, or a painting full of mystery, your child is encouraged to:

  • Engage in visual thinking that sharpens observation and imagination

  • Develop their own voice through discussion and creative response

  • Build confidence in interpreting abstract ideas and expressing their own

This is art appreciation that feels fresh, engaging, and deeply personal.

Silhouette of a person with curly hair standing in front of a wall with illuminated blue LED light strips in a dark room.
A large vivid painting in the Tate Modern gallery depicts political and social scenes, including a blue car, protests, a man with a pistol from a building, and various people, across a divided landscape.

What to Expect

We adapt each visit to your child’s curiosity, ensuring they encounter both iconic works and hidden gems — always at a pace that inspires, not overwhelms.

Yellow compass icon on a black background.

Ages 5–7:

  • Responding to colour, texture, and scale through sketching or playful prompts

  • Interactive “art hunts” that turn looking into an adventure

  • Creative questions like “If this sculpture could talk, what would it say?”

Gold outline of a telescope on a tripod inside a circular border, black background.

Ages 8–9:

  • Exploring storytelling through visual clues across different media

  • Discussing how art makes them feel and why

  • Simple creative exercises inspired by the works we explore

Map with a location pin icon inside a yellow circle

Ages 10–12:

  • Considering the context: Who made this? Why now? What were they trying to say?

  • Exploring themes such as identity, environment, and social change

  • Developing a short creative response — a drawing, poem, or idea — based on their visit

What’s Included

• Curated Visit – a tailored route through highlights of Tate Modern, designed with children in mind

• Guided Exploration – a qualified teacher brings artworks to life with stories, questions and accessible explanations

• Critical Thinking – gentle encouragement to notice, interpret and articulate ideas in their own way

• Child-Friendly Approach – pitched at the right level to support an enjoyable and engaging art experience

• Paediatric First Aid Cover – your child’s safety and wellbeing are supported throughout the experience

Optional Extras

• Special Temporary Exhibitions – access to temporary shows, such as retrospectives or large-scale installations

All exhibits and optional extras are subject to availability and may incur additional charges

Abstract black sculpture with various textured and geometric shapes, protruding elements, and irregular forms mounted on a white wall in an art gallery.
“What impressed me most was not what he noticed, but the questions he chose to ask”
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