You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your Will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
What your gift can do
You do not have to be an art collector to leave a legacy to the V&A. As an arts enthusiast you can make a major con…
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How to leave a legacy to the V&A
If you would like to leave money to the V&A there are two main types of legacy which you might consider.…
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Legacy events
Find out more about legacies at one of our legacy events which feature special behind-the-scenes tours and talks…
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Chauncy Hare Townshend
Chauncy Hare Townshend was a friend of Charles Dickens and later his literary executor. He bequeathed to the Museum a large collection of objects including oil paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, drawings and books.
National Art Library Forster collection
John Forster (1812–76) was a noted biographer, critic, essayist and historian who collected a vast library. He bequeathed this collection to his wife and on her death it passed to the South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899).
National Art Library children's literature collections
The National Art Library has been collecting children's publications since the mid-19th century. It now holds nearly 100,000 books dating from the 16th century to the present day.
John Jones
John Jones was a business man and art collector who bequeathed his large collection of objects, including paintings and furniture, to the Museum in 1882.
The Forster Codices: Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks
The Forster Codices contain five of Leonardo Da Vinci's notebooks. They were part of the library of John Forster (1812–76), and bequeathed to the Museum on his death as a gesture of support for its educational mission.
Donate to the Stained Glass Appeal
We are currently working on an exciting project to conserve and re-install the original stained glass on the landings of the Manfred and Lydia Gorvy Lecture Theatre. We need your help to raise £75,000 to bring these historical features back to their former glory for us all to enjoy.
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V&A Contributing Gift Membership
Need Christmas inspiration? V&A Membership makes an ideal gift, that lasts for the whole year.
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