Tate Modern unveils Bankside Power Station oil tanks

A year and a half has passed since Mayor of London Boris Johnson visited the oil tanks to mark the start of enabling works.

Now The Tanks will be open to the public for a 15-week programme of performances and installations – but it could be another four years until the new building to be erected above the reclaimed industrial spaces is completed.

Two of the three tanks will be used for the artistic programme with the third used for back-of-house functions.

Tate says that The Tanks will be devoted to film, performance, installation and new media works which are not well-suited to display in the tradition 'white cube' gallery.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday morning, Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota described The Tanks as "a new instrument in the orchestra that is Tate Modern".

• The Tanks will be open to the public from 18 July to 28 October. After that, Tate says it expects to use the spaces from time to time as and when construction work permits.