Press releases 2004

A list of older press releases, retained for reference for journalists.

 

What’s on at the V&A in January 2005

The V&A has commissioned a special tour this winter, as well as debates and other events, exploring the idea of Beauty through the Museum's unrivalled permanent collections.

What’s On At The V&A In January 2005 press release

Matthew Williamson creates a blooming Christmas tree for V&A

Fashion designer Matthew Williamson has designed a decadent Christmas tree that will decorate the V&A's stunning Grand Entrance over Christmas 2004. Over 1,000 pink velvet and chiffon roses will decorate the six-metre high tree. Among the flowers will be gold decorations covered with birds, dragonflies and butterflies.

Matthew Williamson Creates A Blooming Christmas Tree For V&A press release

V&A highlights January 2005–2007

This major exhibition will be the first to explore Arts and Crafts as an international style from the 1880s when it flourished in Britain, through to its widespread development as a style in America, continental Europe and Scandinavia, until its final manifestation as the Mingei (folk craft) movement in Japan between 1926 and 1945.

V&A Highlights January 2005–2007 press release

Spectres: When Fashion Turns Back

Next spring, the V&A will host a different fashion exhibition Spectres: When Fashion Turns Back. The exhibition will bring together beautiful historic costumes by designers such as Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaperelli, with clothes by today's cutting-edge designers - including Jean-Paul Gaultier, Martin Margiela and Hussein Chalayan - to explore the continuing and complicated influence of the past on the present, and the power of the historical muse to shape fashion design today. 

Spectres: When Fashion Turns Back press release

New Contemporary Glass Gallery at the V&A

The V&A will open a new gallery for contemporary glass, The Märit Rausing Gallery, on 8 December 2004.  This new gallery adjoins the V&A's historic Glass Gallery and will provide dedicated space specifically for international contemporary work from the Museum's permanent collections.

New Contemporary Glass Gallery At The V&A press release

Style and splendour Queen Maud of Norway’s wardrobe 1896–1938

In February 2005 the V&A opens a display of the spectacular wardrobe of Queen Maud, the British Princess who became Queen Consort of the newly independent Norway in 1905.

Style And Splendour Queen Maud Of Norway’s Wardrobe 1896–1938 press release

What’s on at the V&A in February 2005

In February 2005 the V&A  opens a display of the spectacular wardrobe of Queen Maud, the British Princess who became Queen Consort of the newly independent Norway in 1905.  Daughter of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, Maud was renowned for her fashionable style. Her clothes document an extraordinary era of fashion history, from the decorative but elaborate dress of the Victorian era to the streamlined chic of the 1930s.

What’s On At The V&A In February 2005 press release

V&A and Riba open UK's first permanent Architecture Gallery and new study rooms at the V&A

On 18 November the V&A and RIBA open the UK's first permanent architecture gallery. The gallery features highlights from their world-class collections of drawings, models, photographs and architectural fragments as well as important loans.

V&A And Riba Open UK's First Permanent Architecture Gallery And New Study Rooms At The V&A press release

Black British Style

Opening on 7 October 2004, Black British Style focuses on dress, fashion and styling across all aspects of black British culture and life. It looks at black dress from the 1950s, everyday clothes, traditional clothing, Sunday dressing for church, contemporary street style and fashion associated with black music and dance.

Black British Style press release

Encounters

The V&A's major autumn exhibition, Encounters: The Meeting of Asia and Europe, will bring together a range of fascinating objects from Asia and Europe from the period 1500 -1800 after Europeans first discovered the sea route to the Indies and with it the enduring appeal of the exotic.

Encounters press release

Village Fete 2004

This July sees the fifth annual designer Village Fete at the V&A, now a firm favourite of the London summer scene. This fete with a twist will see some of the best of British design at the V&A. The line-up this year includes stalls by Carl Clerkin & Gitta Gschwendtner, Bump, Daniel Eatock and many more of the latest design talent around.

Village Fete 2004 press release

V&A to open new garden in 2005

John Madejski has given the V&A £2 million to create a new garden at the heart of the museum.  It will be named 'The John Madejski Garden' in honour of the donor. The garden, by award-winning garden designer Kim Wilkie, will open to the public on 6 July 2005.  It is a central part of the V&A's ten year future plan to transform the museum.

V&A to Open New Garden in 2005 press release

Black British Style

Black British Style at the V&A is the first exhibition in the UK to explore the style and fashion of black people in Britain and their impact on British culture over the past 50 years.

Black British Style press release

The Other Flower Show 2004

For six weeks, the V&A is transforming its garden with a summer show of ten garden shed installations by contemporary artists and designers. The Other Flower Show will feature works inspired by gardens and flowers. Taking place in the Year of Gardening 2004, The Other Flower Show provides a creative alternative to the Chelsea Flower Show taking art into the garden and flowers out of the greenhouse.

The Other Flower Show 2004 press release

Christopher Dresser

This autumn the V&A will open the first UK retrospective on Christopher Dresser, one of the most influential British designers, which marks the centenary of his death. Dresser (1834-1904) is widely known as Britain's first professional, independent, industrial designer. The exhibition will examine the whole spectrum of his work, charting his early more decorative designs, the trip to Japan which transformed his style, and his later streamlined minimalist work.

Christopher Dresser press release

Vivienne Westwood

In April 2004 the Victoria and Albert Museum launched a major exhibition of the work of Vivienne Westwood, one of the most influential fashion designers of the last 30 years.

Vivienne Westwood press release

A Buddha for the Nation

The British Museum and the V&A have joined together to acquire a rare Indian 7th century metal statue of a standing figure of the Buddha Sakyamuni, the first to enter a public European collection.

A Buddha for the Nation press release

New Islamic Gallery

Hartwell plc, part of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, has given the Victoria & Albert Museum a substantial donation to transform one of its historic galleries into a fitting home for the Museum's superb collection of Islamic art from the Middle East. The company is also financing a touring exhibition of the V&A's Islamic treasures to the USA, Japan and the UK.

New Islamic Gallery press release

Bill Brandt

V&A is celebrating the centenary of the birth of Bill Brandt (1904-83), Britain's best-loved photographer of modern times, with a major exhibition. This retrospective presents 155 mainly vintage gelatin-silver prints from the Bill Brandt Archive.

Bill Brandt press release

Five new Paintings Galleries

The V&A will display 200 works from its extensive paintings collection in a new suite of five galleries that continue the Museum's programme of renewal and refurbishment. On display will be Constable's revolutionary oil sketches donated to the Museum by the artist's daughter, landscapes by Constable, Turner and Gainsborough, and famous works by Blake, Landseer and Millais.

Five New Paintings Galleries press release