VA East Opens as a Cultural Space for Creativity and Community

Quick Smiles:

• A new V&A branch has opened in London’s Olympic Park, aiming to serve as a beacon of culture and community.
• Developed with help from local youth, the free galleries are designed to inspire the next generation of creators.
• The opening exhibition highlights Black British music with more than 200 items, while the permanent collection explores why people create.

A massive new branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum has opened in London’s Olympic Park, serving as a beacon of culture and community. Developed with the help of local youth, the V&A East Museum provides free galleries designed to inspire the next generation of creators.

The museum’s inaugural exhibition celebrates the profound impact of Black British music, featuring over 200 items including instruments and iconic fashion. This multi-sensory journey highlights the creativity and resilience of artists across more than a century of musical history.

The permanent collection explores the global motivations behind why people create, featuring diverse voices from around the world. Curators and young advisors worked together to ensure the space reflects the rich industrial and artistic heritage of East London.

“We want this space to be full of lots of different voices and lots of different answers to that question of why we make and who a maker can be.”

“It’s not just a museum, but a civic space for dialogue, discovery and shared experience.”

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