V&A East Opens its Long-Awaited Doors to the Public This Weekend.

The V&A East Museum officially opens this Saturday, April 18. We were lucky to get a sneak peek inside the new building ahead of its grand opening.

The opening is part of East Bank, the new cultural quarter in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, supported by the mayor of London. It was co-created with young people, creatives, and those living in east London, celebrating creativity’s power to bring change around the world.

The first major exhibition, The Music is Black: A British Story, reveals how Black British music has shaped British culture over the last 125 years and its impact around the world. The BBC has partnered with V&A East on The Music Is Black: A British Story, providing access to archival materials and releasing a season of content across its channels and platforms inspired by the exhibition.

The exhibition highlights include Stormzy’s iconic 2019 Glastonbury vest designed by Banksy; Joan Armatrading’s childhood guitar, fashion worn by Seal, Sade and Skin; plus Fabio & Grooverider’s DJ equipment and Grooverider’s first turntable; newly acquired photographs by Eddie Otchere, Jennie Baptiste and Laura ‘Hyperfrank’ Brosnan; and a specially commissioned painting by Sir Frank Bowling.

The building also holds two free permanent 'Why We Make' galleries spotlighting global culture with a topical lens with over 500 objects from the V&A’s collection.

Plan your visit to the V&A East Museum here.

Written by: Bridget Eke