Monday 17 November (2.00 pm)
Blythe House, 23 Blythe Road, London W14 0QX
The Victoria and Albert Museum invites you to discover some of the amazing stories hidden within its extensive archives as part of the Explore Your Archive campaign
Archives across the UK and Ireland are taking part to raise awareness of the value of archives to society and of the rich variety of content which is preserved and made available to users.
Enjoy the splendid Frank Matcham theatre plans, find out about theatre “bibles” and indulge in some of the wonderful theatre programmes in the UK’s national collection for the performing arts;
Explore the weird and wonderful world of Eduardo Paolozzi’s Krazy Kat Arkive of Twentieth-Century Popular Culture and prototype objects from a host of designers;
Learn about Auguste Rodin’s magnificent gift of sculptures, Eric Gill’s World War I memorial, and the skeletons that once rattled around in the V&A’s vaults.
These are just a few highlights from our diverse and fascinating archive collections. You’ll also enjoy behind the scenes tours of the stores and learn about what we collect, how we look after it, and how the archives are used.
Places are limited and early booking is recommended. Visits last for approximately two hours and tickets cost £10.
To book a place please call +44 (0)20 7942 2211
You can also book online 24 hours a day through What’s On, although a handling charge per transaction applies.
The V&A Archive of Art and Design holds the archives of individuals and groups involved in all aspects of the art and design process who have taken a place in history through their work and their achievements. Through the records collected and conserved by the Museum, you will see something of the impact made by fashion designers, artists, architects and graphic designers.
The V&A Archive is the repository for the Museum’s corporate records. It supports research into the history and collections of the V&A, and the broader history of art and design. You will be introduced to some of the colourful individuals and incidents that helped shape the V&A over the last 150 years.
The V&A Theatre & Performance Collections hold unrivalled archives of performance in the UK. From our archives, and our stored collections of costumes, posters and other objects, you can learn about not only the performers but also the other people who have a place in the history of theatre. These include writers, choreographers, designers, the backstage crew, investors, and of course, the audience.
You’ll be amazed what you might uncover
Explore Your Archive.
Find out more visit exploreyourarchive.org
