CURRENT PROJECTS

Ceramics Phase 1

The refurbished Ceramics galleries will house a collection that is unrivalled anywhere in the world

The Galleries

A substantial lead gift from the Headley Trust is generously supporting the redevelopment of the Ceramics galleries. This refurbishment project will create the most important national and international centre for the enjoyment, understanding and study of ceramics and a collection that is unrivalled anywhere in the world.

The new galleries will include a major new introductory gallery, presenting a 'world history' of ceramics, highlighting connections between ceramics of different cultures and periods. Another major gallery will be devoted to ceramic materials and techniques, and there will be smaller rooms for temporary exhibitions, changing displays of international contemporary ceramics, and the study collections of 20th century pottery and architectural ceramics. This phase will open in September 2009.

Touring Exhibition

An exhibition of 120 highlights from the ceramics collections  will tour (around the world) while  the new galleries are under development.

The Collection

The Ceramics galleries are beautifully top-lit spaces and were purpose built in 1909 for the display of the collection. The V&A's collections encompass the entire history of ceramic production from the 3rd millennium BC to the present day. They are encyclopaedic and global in scope, with collections from: China, Japan, Korea and South-East Asia; the Middle East and North Africa; Continental Europe and Britain; as well as smaller groups from Africa and North and South America.

Design

The gallery designer for Phase 1 is Stanton Williams.  Working with a team of specialist consultants, educators, conservators and curators, Stanton Williams are creating a series of elegant, unified and accessible galleries which will include a working studio and demonstration area.  Stanton Williams also recently designed a major exhibition at the V&A, Leonardo da Vinci: Experience, Experiment and Design. For more information on Stanton Williams, visit  www.stantonwilliams.com

Programme

Opens in September 2009.