New Art Space Opens

This new museum has officially landed in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, and it feels less like a museum and more like a creative laboratory.

The building is a jagged, architectural marvel designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey which is inspired by a Balenciaga dress—and the energy inside is just as sharp. Opening with “The Music is Black: A British Story,” the museum immediately stakes its claim as a space that isn’t just looking at the past, but celebrating the living, breathing culture of East London. 

These photographs which I have taken show that walking through the bright and airy building you notice a demographic range of visitors in terms of gender and ethnicity which you may not normally see in other museums within the city.

Highlights:

• The “Order an Object” System: It’s revolutionary. You can actually request to see items from the massive object collection that are not on the main display.
• The Soundtrack: Walking inside feels cinematic, thanks to the BBC Music partnership.
• The Food: Don’t skip the café—it’s run by the Jikoni team, and the “cooking without borders” menu is probably the best museum food in the city right now.

The V & A East is the cultural heartbeat London needed. It scores highly for inclusivity and architectural guts. It’s a museum for the next generation of creators. Entry is free so just go along to it and enjoy. Please leave your comments below.