About us
About the V&A
The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity— its power to entertain and move, to enrich our lives, open our minds and change the world. We celebrate and share that power through a programme of exhibitions, events, educational and digital experiences, a collection of 2.8 million objects, and through our support for new works and commitment to conservation, research and sustainable design. Together, our work tells a 5,000-year-old story of creativity, helping to advance cultural knowledge everywhere, and inspiring the makers, creators and innovators of today and tomorrow. We are always working to broaden our audiences so that everyone can be part of the V&A – because the V&A and the power of creativity belong to us all.
We are a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and a charity exempt from registration under the Charities Act of 2011. We are governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Prime Minister. The Director of the museum is Dr Tristram Hunt, who leads the Executive Board.
V&A Mission, Vision and Values
Mission:
To champion design and creativity in all its forms, for everyone.
Vision:
To take that mission to new audiences of all ages and backgrounds, online and in person, redefining the role of the V&A as a 21st century museum.
Values:
- Equity
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Sustainability
- Generosity
FuturePlan
FuturePlan is an ambitious programme of development which is transforming the V&A. The best contemporary designers are creating exciting new galleries and visitor facilities, while revealing and restoring the beauty of the original building. In the past 20 years, over 85% of V&A South Kensington’s public spaces have been transformed, improving access and allowing the collections to be more elegantly and intelligently displayed. By introducing bold new architectural interventions, FuturePlan aims to delight and to inspire visitors, and to continue the V&A’s tradition of championing new talent.
Read more here: https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/futureplan
Our Approach to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I)
We are committed to promoting EDI through all our practices – our people, our audiences, our collection and our programmes – and integrating these values consistently and naturally into all our activities. Achieving this will require change and it will take time. We are committed to making that change and sustaining the effort required to become a truly diverse organisation with an inclusive culture.
To ensure that our strategy has impact and longevity we have set out an internal governance structure that supports the voices of all of our diverse employees to be heard at a senior leadership level. We have employee groups including the Anti-Racism Taskforce, Disability Action Group, LGBTQ+ Working Group and many more. These are supported by the Inclusivity Forum.
In 2022 we developed a comprehensive 3-year, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy covering all functions of the organisation. The strategy is monitored by performance indicators throughout the year and annually. We also benchmark against industry standards. Our strategic approach spans three broad areas: People, Programmes and Place, each supported by specific key strategic objectives:
People: We are committed to promoting EDI through all our practices – our people, our audiences, our collection and our programmes – and integrating these values consistently and naturally into all our activities. We are committed to making change, and sustaining the effort required to become a truly diverse organisation with an inclusive culture. For the V&A ‘Our people’ means many groups, including employees, volunteers, partners, contractors, work-experience students and apprentices.
Programmes: We will deliver a programme of exhibitions, displays, events, festivals, talks and interventions that truly reflects the interests and needs of our audiences and builds connections in a meaningful way. By listening to those who visit and those who don’t yet, as well as experts across a range of disciplines, we will develop content that explores diverse narratives and themes with depth and integrity.
Our curatorial structure and activity will promote equity, diversity and a commitment to an inclusive museum. We will expand our acquisitions remit to shape a broader and more balanced collection, and we will continue to play an active role in discussions around restitution.
Place: We will create sites and spaces that invite and welcome everyone to enjoy the V&A on their own terms. By genuinely considering and responding to the interests and needs of our audiences, we will make sure our buildings are safe, comfortable, open and inspiring for all. Through early consultation and innovative design at our new sites, and focused assessment and careful adaptation of our heritage buildings, we will ensure our spaces offer truly spectacular experiences for all.
To read more about our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit: https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/equality-diversity-and-inclusion-at-the-va
Featured event: LGBTQIA+ Tour (2024)
Until recently, the lives of LGBTQIA+ people were largely invisible or untold in museums. In these tours your will discover the hidden stories of diverse gender and sexual identities across time, place and culture.
Join our V&A Volunteer Guides to explore gender and sexual identities through a selection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus objects in the V&A’s rich and surprising collections.