V&A and World Collections programme

The World Collections Programme, funded by the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), is a collaborative initiative between 6 of the UK's leading cultural organisations: the British Museum, the British Library, Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, Tate, V&A and the Natural History Museum. It develops innovative projects with African and Asian partners which ensure greater access to UK collections and expertise.

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The following V&A projects have received support from the World Collections Programme:

Masterpieces in World Ceramics touring exhibition to Damascus and Istanbul

During the refurbishment of V&A's permanent ceramics galleries, a selection of highlights were drawn from the collection for the touring exhibition Masterpieces in World Ceramics. The exhibitions at the  Khan As'ad Pasha, Damascus from 26 November 2008 to 8 January 2009 and the Pera Museum, Istanbul from 14 May 2009 to 19 July 2009 were made possible with support from the World Collections Programme.

The V&A was also involved in two World Collections Programme seminars on Museum Management held to coincide with the exhibitions at both venues.

Indian Life and Landscape

This touring exhibition was developed in collaboration between the V&A and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) formerly Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai, and received support from the World Collections Programme  which enabled the exhibitions to include a public programme. The support also made possible an extension of the exhibition to the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodphur, which also involved skills sharing and capacity building.

Staff visits and exchanges

Funding from the World Collections Programme enabled curators and conservators from the V&A to visit the Salar Jung Museum to assist with a review of the information held on collections, as well as aspects of museum practise such as conservation and display.

V&A also organised a training-internship for a member of staff from the CSMVS, Mumbai to study the latest practice in printmaking and design. This also included study visits to other WCP and regional institutions.

India: The Art of the Temple

The V&A has collaborated with the British Museum for their touring exhibition India: The Art of the Temple. World Collections Programme support included this animation, based on the forms and principles of Indian temple architecture of the three main religious traditions: Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain.