Catherine goes behind the scenes at museum stores

Catherine goes behind the scenes at museum stores

During her recent visit to East London, the Princess of Wales made a stop at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s storehouse. The project she encountered is aimed at making the museum’s extensive collection more accessible to a wider audience. Situated in South Kensington, the main building of the museum houses over 600,000 objects, with additional newly-opened storage rooms at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Engaging in a behind-the-scenes tour, Catherine lauded the initiative that allows the public to have a closer look at the museum’s historical artifacts. The V&A East Storehouse, purposefully constructed as an arts storage center, seeks to broaden access and “unlock” the collection of art, design, and fashion items that are not typically on display. Catherine expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to view such pieces in person and up close, rather than having them hidden away from public view.

During her tour, the princess was guided by the museum’s director, Tristram Hunt, who showcased examples of conservation work on textiles from the collection. Among the items she viewed were textiles by the renowned Victorian designer, William Morris, with Catherine particularly admiring the intricate foliage design. Engaging in discussions with the museum director, she remarked on how some of the historic textiles could still appear contemporary, showcasing the timeless nature of art and design.

One of the noteworthy features of the museum store is the “order an object” service, which enables visitors to schedule an appointment to view a specific object up close and receive detailed information from museum staff. Royal sources revealed that Catherine’s visit aimed to underscore the importance of creative opportunities and celebrate the “power of creativity” in making art and history accessible to all

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