The V&A East Museum in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, has unveiled a first look at its new space and inaugural major exhibition ahead of its opening this Saturday, 18 April.
Designed by architects O’Donnell + Tuomey, the five-storey building has been co-created with young people, creatives, and those living, working and studying in East London as part of East Bank, the new cultural quarter in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Before its opening weekend, V&A East Museum has released a series of images of its exterior and offered a glimpse of its first major exhibition, The Music is Black: A British Story.
David Parry
The exhibition is the largest-ever dedicated to exploring the influence of Black British music in the UK and around the world.
It features over 200 items from the V&A’s collection, including highlights such as Stormzy’s 2019 Glastonbury vest designed by Banksy, Joan Armatrading’s childhood guitar, and iconic fashion worn by artists like Seal and Sade.
Spanning 125 years of Black British music, the exhibition explores how it has influenced British culture over that time, highlighting eight key genres from 2 tone and lovers rock to Brit funk, jungle, drum & bass, trip hop, UK garage, and grime.
David Parry
V&A East ambassador, Cat Burns, said: "Being part of the first The Music is Black: A British Story exhibition at V&A East Museum is such an exciting moment for me.
"V&A East Museum’s focus on creativity for change really speaks to how music and culture can inspire, challenge, and create opportunity.
"I’m looking forward to sharing this space and experience with everyone. It's about celebrating art, identity, and stories that matter."
Free galleries house over 500 objects
As well as the new exhibition, the museum has two free permanent Why We Make galleries, which house over 500 objects from the V&A’s collection spanning art, architecture, design, performance, and fashion.
Gus Casely-Hayford, V&A East's director, said: “Over 10 years in the making, we’re delighted to open V&A East Museum, a space created with and for our audiences, including young people and east Londoners, in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park."
David Parry
Sadiq Khan, London's mayor, said: "The opening of V&A East Museum is a major milestone in the growing success of East Bank. It will play a big part in our capital’s world-leading cultural scene, celebrating creativity, creating opportunities and showing the power the arts can have."
The new museum serves as a sister site to the V&A East Storehouse, which opened in May.
Images courtesy of V&A East
