Victoria and Albert Museum: Museum of Childhood Website

PF 80

From 2008

This series contains dated gathered versions (or 'snapshots') of the Victoria and Albert Museum: Museum of Childhood website. [Please note: These records may be accessed via the UK Government Web Archive].

Please see information at Divisional level

Public Record(s)

English

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 1997-2017
• Victoria and Albert Museum, 1857-1857

archived website(s)

Open

Gathered from original website.

Topics

Children

Museums and galleries

Official publications

Future website versions may be anticipated.

The Victoria and Albert Museum: Museum of Childhood is based at Bethnal Green, in east London. The museum was founded in 1872 as the Bethnal Green Museum.

In its early days, the Museum's purpose was unclear. Generally regarded as a means of introducing disadvantaged East Enders to the cultural riches of the nation's heritage, the Museum's opening displays comprised two collections from the Great Exhibition, Food and Animal products, and a collection of 18th century French art on loan from Sir Richard Wallace.

The transition from this subject matter to the focus on childhood is unofficially attributed to one of the Museum's curators, Arthur Sabin. Sabin, who was appointed when the Museum re-opened after the First World War, was particularly interested in promoting the Museum as a resource for children. He began to focus on the parts of the collection which would be of interest to children, and by 1925 had established both a classroom and, following a successful exhibition for children at the V&A, a Children's Section for the Museum.

However it wasn't until 1974 that the then Director of the V&A, Sir Roy Strong, made the decision that the Museum would officially be dedicated to the subject of childhood. The V&A's collections of children's costume, books, nursery items, art and furniture were relocated and redisplayed in Bethnal Green, alongside the Museum's existing toy collection.

The museum closed in October 2005 for the second phase of extensive renovations, costing £4.7 million. It reopened on 9 December 2006 with changes including a new front entrance, gallery, displays and café.