Empty spaces in front of Tate taken on by an esteemed artist (5)
I believe the answer is:
antra
'empty spaces' is the definition.
'antra' can be an answer for 'spaces' (I have seen 'Hollow spaces' mean 'antra' so perhaps 'spaces' could also mean 'antra'). I am unsure of the 'empty' bit.
'front of tate taken on by an esteemed artist' is the wordplay.
'front of' indicates taking the first letters (the letter at the front of the word).
'taken on by' says to put letters next to each other.
'esteemed artist' becomes 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts. I am not sure about the 'esteemed' bit.).
The first letter of 'tate' is 't'.
't' after 'an' is 'ant'.
'ant'+'ra'='ANTRA'
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for antra that I've seen before include "Hollow spaces" , "Natural hollows" , "Cave!" , "Cavities - a rant (anag)" , "Chambers" .)