The V&A Museum of Childhood is closing for a £13 million transformation. It will reimagine its collections, buildings and public programmes to become a world-class centre of creativity for children.
The attraction is closing on May 11, 2020 and reopening in 2022. New details and concept images of the project were released on Monday (February 17)
The V&A Museum of Childhood will boast objects displayed at toddlers’ height, dressing up boxes, board games, dolls houses, and new spaces for hands-on making.
It will also feature Hollywood props and costumes, including the original Superman costume, Frankenstein’s Monster, and Mary Poppins’ umbrella.
V&A Museum of Childhood to reopen in 2022
“We want to empower children to realise that every act of creativity is wondrous, whether it’s self-expression through their clothes, building a world on Minecraft or launching a school climate strike,” said Tristram Hunt, V&A director.
“By bringing together the V&A’s world-class collections with immersive displays, we will offer an outstanding day out for families, for free.”
In addition, it will feature iconic works from the V&A‘s collections of art, design and performance. The main hall will be reimagined as ‘The Town Square’.
The Stage will be a performance space with a capacity for 125 people. It will be the centrepiece of the museum’s daily programme of family activities.
Natural light, vibrant colour, multi-sensory environments
Plans for the V&A Museum of Childhood’s most ambitious redevelopment come from AOC Architecture, which aims to create a museum filled with natural light, vibrant colour, and multi-sensory environments.
The design, developed by De Matos Ryan, involves adding new learning studios, improving facilities, renovating the infrastructure, and creating a kaleidoscopic staircase for The Town Square.
Hunt added: “Beloved by the local community, but in need of modernisation, this ambitious transformation will enable the V&A Museum of Childhood to unlock its huge potential to nurture the potential of future generations and become a champion of children’s creativity.”
