This volume presents the project of the artists Neil Cummings and Marysia Lewandowska to explore the role and function of Tate and the Bank of England. It contains their photographs of "backstage" areas of the two institutions - archives, storage spaces, offices - which are juxtaposed with newspaper cuttings, cartoons and facsimiles of each institution's literature. As well as providing a history of the cultural function of Tate and the Bank of England, the book also contains various essays and literary illustrations and addresses questions such as: why are certain works of art valued above others? and what part does gift-giving and sponsorship play in the museum? The book is the first in a series of artist's projects at Tate Modern, exploring the history and role of the museum and its wider place in the cultural landscape.
