Smithsonian announces partnership with V&A East
– Lonnie Bunch, secretary of The Smithsonian
The Smithsonian Institute has announced a new partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) that will see the curation of a new gallery at its V&A East campus.
The new campus will form part of East Bank, an upcoming cultural and educational development, worth a reported £1bn (US$1.4bn, €1.2bn), in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London, UK.
Expected to open in 2023, the new gallery will explore the impact human life has had on the world around us and how humanity's relationship with nature has evolved, through the topics of art, design, science and the humanities.
The gallery will be open for two years, following its opening, and will feature items, including previously unexhibited objects, from the collections of both institutions.
"The V&A's new museum in East London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a magnificent achievement for London, and I am honoured for the Smithsonian to be a part of this project," said Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch.
"I have no doubt that this mutually beneficial collaboration will allow us to share innovative programming on education, diversity and inclusion, and museum leadership development with a truly international audience," he added.
The Smithsonian will also work alongside communities in East London, as well as the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), the Foundation for Future London (FFL) and the Mayor of London to further STEP (Shared Training and Employment Programme), an international leadership and cultural exchange programme for young adults from East London and Washington D.C. that aims to equip young people with the skills and connections they need to begin a career in cultural organisations.
Designed for 18 - 30 year olds, and led by the LLDC and the FFL, STEP see's participants travelling to the US for an immersive experience at the Smithsonian, where they will explore topics such as popular culture, natural history, graphic design and photography, global art and African American history. They will also have access to daily seminars and will be able to attend meetings with consevators, curators, historians and administrative staff.
Participants will also spend a year in East London, working with the East Bank and it's partner organisations, including UCL, Sadler's Wells, BBC Music, and the London College of Fashion.
"The young people's leadership programme aligns with my priorities of education programmes, diversity and inclusion and museum leadership development," Bunch added.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "East Bank will inspire a whole new generation of Londoners as we bring world-leading culture and education together at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park."
"It is the most ambitious project of its kind for decades and this partnership between the Smithsonian and the V&A will give Londoners and visitors to the capital the opportunity to experience a unique collection."
"We're also delighted that we will be extending the STEP programme, allowing the next generation of talent in East London and Washington D.C., to benefit from an unparalelled opportunity," he added.
V&A director Tristram Hunt, said: "It's great to have Secretary Bunch's endorsement of our vision for V&A East - a hugely ambitious project, with national and international partnerships at its core.
"Our collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution has created unique opportunities for both organisations and we're looking forward to bringing our collections, research and expertise together, and to building on our relationship over the coming years."
Smithsonian Victoria and Albert Museum V&A V&A East East Bank Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Lonnie Bunch Sadiq Khan Tristram HuntEurope's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Isola delle Rose has a rich history and an enviable location. Matteo Thun knew he had to capitalise on both with the design of the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa