V&A East, a new branch of the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum, has opened its doors in London’s Olympic Park on 18 April, bringing a unique blend of cultural weight and community involvement. Offering free permanent galleries and major temporary exhibitions, V&A East is designed with input from local youths, putting a spotlight on its vision to foster local talent and innovation.
This new addition will complement its sibling venue, V&A East Storehouse, which was opened in May 2025. Both are situated in East Bank, a dynamic new cultural quarter in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is a part of London Mayor’s 2012 Olympic legacy. Together they represent one of the most ambitious UK museum ventures in the past decade.
The museum’s grand opening was marked with an exclusive viewing, followed by a star-studded event celebrating its premiere exhibition, “The Music is Black: A British Story”. Prominent artists like AJ Tracey, Beverley Knight and MNEK graced the event, with performances and DJ sets echoing the museum’s commitment to live culture and creative exchange.
The premier exhibition pays tribute to over a century of Black British music and its global influence. With over 200 objects, including instruments, fashion, photographs and memorabilia of famed artists, the exhibition covers genres from lovers rock and Brit funk to grime and UK garage, profiling both trailblazing figures and contemporary artists. The exhibition, in collaboration with BBC Music, is part of a broader program to celebrate Black British music throughout 2026.
Alongside this, the heart of the museum’s permanent galleries houses “Why We Make”, an exhibit examining contemporary global culture through a collection of objects from the V&A’s extensive collections. Developed with the contribution of V&A East’s Youth Collective, the galleries explore the motivations behind creative work across different time periods and geographical locations.
“The reasons for creation vary from voicing dissent to creating communities to challenging systems. We want this space to be filled with different voices and responses to the question of why we create and who a creator can be”, says the curator of the exhibit, Chloe Kellow.
East London’s layered history makes it the perfect location for the V&A’s five-storey expansion. Kellow mentions, “East London has a rich history of industry and creation of all types. It was home to the first experiments in plastics and silk weaving. Today, it’s a hub for the latest fashion and designers rethinking use of materials for a climate-resilient future.” Works by late performance artist Leigh Bowery will be displayed alongside Italian Renaissance paintings and 19th-century coral jewellery from India and Tibet.
New acquisitions include works by artist and designer Yinka Ilori, an outfit from Lazy Oaf’s recent collaboration with creative King Owusu, and photographs taken at Preston bus station by British documentary photographer Jamie Hawkesworth. The Youth Collective has been instrumental in influencing gallery layouts, materials and lighting. They also helped select and interview local artists whose works feature in the opening displays.
“Our design is driven by the idea of openness – a building that welcomes its community, celebrates creativity, and frames the exchange between art, people and place. It’s not just a museum, but a civic space for dialogue, discovery and shared experience.”, adds V&A East project director, Jen McLachlan.
Main image: V&A East Museum © Lewis Vorn
