Most museumsDisplay only 3% of their collection. The remaining items are stored in large facilities, visible only to curators and conservators. The V&A museum in London aims to change this.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, referred to as the V&A, is the world’s largest collection of applied arts, decorative arts, and design. The museum was established more than 150 years ago, yet it remains committed to innovation. Recently, they have unveiled a new storage facility that contains over half a million items (artifacts, books, costumes, and more). In this new space, you can pass by numerous objects you’ve never encountered before, with no restrictions. However, the most exciting feature is the ability to “request” specific items.
Simply ask two weeks in advance, and the museum will deliver the item to a private room. Curators will be waiting there, provide you with purple gloves, and show you how to touch the artifact with your own hands. You can request items ranging from 1950s Balenciaga gowns to Roman coins and Egyptian jewelry.
The museum states in a release that they have aimed to shift from highly controlled, visible storage to an experience that is truly self-directed, drawing from the behind-the-scenes aspects of the museum. The barriers are minimal—both physically and symbolically. It is available for free every day of the year, and there’s no need to reserve as you would for other storage areas.
A Fresh Approach to Museums
Museums, as they exist today, have been present for hundreds of years, yet they have consistently been linked to academic institutions and the safeguarding of unique artifacts. Although museums have become increasingly accessible to the general public, visitors typically only encounter a small portion of what is available. The majority of museums possess much larger collections that are seldom or never exhibited.
The V&A is not different. The museum holds 2.8 million objects, with approximately 300,000 deemed suitable for long-term exhibition in galleries. This is where the East Storehouse plays a role.
The gallery is located within a building that served as part of the 2012 London Olympics. From the outside, it appears similar to any other industrial structure. Inside, it resembles a reimagined collection of oddities — a multi-layered, circular space where guests move through shelves filled with items spanning 5,000 years of history.human creativity.
Nothing is categorized by theme, location, or historical era. A Roman fresco could be placed next to a Chopper bike. A medieval Spanish ceiling might be positioned above a Brutalist concrete panel from London’s former Robin Hood Gardens. It is intentionally disorganized, intended to spark curiosity and encourage visitors to create their own experience.
In short, it just doesn’tlook like a museum, says Senior Curator Georgia Haseldine.
Objects won’t be showcased elegantly on a pedestal as you’d typically see in an exhibition,” she explained. “Rather, they’ll be placed on pallets. You might come across a set of shoes packed in tissue paper, or perhaps an Alexander McQueen dress, but it will be wrapped in a material that blocks light.
The Storehouse allows guests to observe conservators at work via large glass panels that span from floor to ceiling, examine more than 100 carefully arranged “mini-exhibits” integrated into the shelves, and participate in areas meant for performances, lectures, and hands-on activities.
Ordering Exhibits
The most thrilling aspect of the new method, nevertheless, is the ability to physically interact with objects.
Simply request it two weeks in advance, and the museum will deliver the artwork to a private room. Curators will be waiting there, provide you with purple gloves, and show you how to properly handle the item.
“Prior to your appointment, your items will be evaluated. This involves examining their delicacy, any potential risks or security needs, and whether they are suitable for handling,” themuseum’s order page explains.
The service is available to all, including artists, students, scientists, and even brides seeking dress ideas. One visitor reserved an item for their birthday.
“Every reason to look at the collection is a valid one,” Kate Parsons, director of conservation, collections care, and access, says to W magazine.
Getting Collections Much Closer Than Before
But why even start with this, isn’t it dangerous? Well,we’ve been doing museumsSomewhat incorrect, according to the V&A administrators. The role of museums goes beyond merely displaying exceptional collections; it also aims to connect individuals with them. Historically, organizations have had to decide between exhibition and storage. This is a middle ground — a dynamic combination.
The primary responsibility of the V&A is to protect our collections. A key method of achieving this over time is by bringing the public nearer to their national collections. The more you do this, the greater their comprehension of the efforts involved in managing a collection becomes, along with their appreciation for it.
The museum was also established in one of the UK’s most culturally vibrant but underrepresented neighborhoods, places that are full of artistic energy yet frequently omitted from national museum listings.
This narrative first was published onZME Science. Want to become smarter each day?Subscribe to our newsletterand keep up-to-date with the most recent scientific developments.
