International work

The V&A’s purpose is to make its world-class collection available to all, to champion the creative industry, spark the imagination and inspire the next generation.

Today, the Museum operates on a global scale through research, loans, strategic partnerships, touring exhibitions, professional training and consultancies.

Here are just some of the ways we are extending our reach and impact, working with partners around the world.

The V&A has entered into a landmark partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea. The five-year partnership and major grant will enable the redevelopment of the museum’s Korean Gallery, as well as support an expansion in future programming dedicated to contemporary Korean culture.

Our Culture in Crisis programme is dedicated to protecting the world’s cultural heritage and supporting communities that suffer cultural loss, whether through criminal acts or natural disaster.

In 2017, Design Society opened in Shenzhen’s Shekou district, in southern China. The V&A partnered with China Merchants Shekou Holdings to open this new cultural hub dedicated to design, featuring the V&A’s first international gallery. The collaboration is the latest and most ambitious initiative to result from the V&A’s long-standing relationship with China.

The Jameel Prize is an international award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition. Its aim is to explore the relationship between Islamic traditions of art, craft and design and contemporary work as part of a wider debate about Islamic culture and its role today.

The V&A and La Biennale di Venezia have jointly organised a special project at the Applied Arts Pavilion every year since 2016. This unique partnership showcases the V&A projects at the world’s largest and most important exhibition of art and architecture.

ReACH is a global initiative spearheaded by the Victoria and Albert Museum in partnership with the Peri Charitable Foundation.

The V&A has been touring exhibitions overseas since 1987 and today works with venues in over 40 countries – making it one of the largest touring programmes in the world.

The V&A supports an active programme of loans to UK and international venues as a key means of making our collections more widely available to the public.

The V&A’s professional development programme provides skills training for museums professionals. Taught by V&A staff, the programme focuses on practical training and uses current projects as case studies and examples.

For more information and to discuss collaboration opportunities, please contact: International.Initiatives@vam.ac.uk