Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has launched a major new collaborative arts initiative involving the Tate and 18 other institutions across the UK.

Plus Tate aims to bring together the organisations in a bid to exchange ideas, resources and knowledge, in addition to programmes and collections.

It follows a successful pilot phase of the initiative in 2009 - Tate Connects and is also designed to increase access to contemporary arts across the UK.

Among the participants of the Plus Tate scheme are Glynn Vivian Arts Gallery, Swansea; Arnolfini, Bristol; Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, Penzance; and Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester.

Turner Contemporary, Margate; BALTIC, Gateshead; Ikon, Birmingham; Cornerhouse, Manchester; Grizedale Arts in Cumbria; mima, Middlesbrough; and Mostyn, Llandudno, have all signed up to the initiative.

The Hepworth Wakefield; Kettle's Yard, Cambridge; Nottingham Contemporary; The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney; firstsite, Colchester; Towner, Eastbourne; and Wysing Arts Centre, Bourn, are also included.

Hunt said: "The partnership between Tate and these eighteen arts organisations up and down the country will bring huge public benefit, by pooling resources and inspiring people through art."

Tate director Nicholas Serota added: "Working in partnership, collaborating closely with leading organisations that have high national and international profiles and strong links to their local communities, means we can support their further development and strengthen their hand by sharing with them Tate's resources and collection."

Image: Tate Photography