Touring Exhibitions
The Museum has a programme of touring exhibitions, which are available to venues all over the world. The touring programme includes exhibitions first shown at the V&A Museum of Childhood (Sit Down: Seating for Kids) as well as exhibitions created specifically for touring (Teddy Bear Story).
We are currently actively seeking new partners and venues for our touring exhibitions. To find out more, or to receive further information about the Museum's touring programme, email Exhibitions Manager Stephen Nicholls at s.nicholls@vam.ac.uk.
Exhibitions Available to Other Venues
Sit Down: Seating for Kids
Installation shot: Sit Down: Seating for Kids (click image for larger version)
Available from spring 2011
Taking the classic children's tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears as its starting point, Sit Down: Seating for Kids poses the question - What makes the perfect seat? Is it comfort? Style? Ease of use?
Sit Down is divided into three themes, each posing a fundamental question - What is a seat?, Who are seats for?, and How are seats made? Featuring over 60 seats made especially for children and spanning over 350 years, the exhibition draws on the V&A's outstanding collection of children's chairs, benches, sofas, bean bags, rocking horses, ride-on toys and potties, including seminal design classics such as the Eames's child's chair, designed in 1945.
The experience is captivating and multi-sensory with images, film and hands-on activities designed for both adult and family audiences.
Size: Approx 400 m2
Teddy Bear Story
Teddy Bear, made in England c.1937, Museum no. MISC.166-1988 (click image for larger version)
Available from autumn 2011
In celebration of what is probably the most popular toy in the world, this exhibition, created specifically for touring, highlights the cultural, historic and material qualities of the teddy bear.
Featuring over 100 examples of teddy bears, including many rare and diverse examples, the exhibition is split into four themes - History, Makers, Materials and Bear Stories - investigating the world-wide phenomenal production and success of this favourite toy, looking at popular books, films and television programmes starring bears, as well as teddies that have their own personal stories to tell.
The exhibition draws on the V&A's outstanding collection, alongside notable loans from major collectors and institutions. The experience is captivating and multi-sensory with images, film and hands-on activities designed for both adult and family audiences.
Size: Approx 400 m2
Magic Worlds
Cinderella and Ugly Sisters glove puppets, Made in England 1946, Museum Nos. E.645-1949, E.646-1949 & E.647-1949 (click image for larger version)
Available from spring 2012
Magic Worlds delves into the enchanting world of magic and fantasy, and presents a diverse array of material that illustrates and informs our ideas and perceptions of magic.
Featuring more than 100 objects from all over the world, the exhibition has three major sections - Illusion, Fantasy and Enchantment. This thematic approach looks at the origins and history of magic, at the same time demonstrating how magical themes have inspired artists and writers to create fantasy realms featuring fairies and other extraordinary creatures over the centuries.
The exhibition draws on the V&A's extensive collection, alongside notable loans from major institutions. The experience is engaging and multi-sensory with images, film and hands-on activities for adult and family audiences.
