Sackler Centre for Arts Education

Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Sep 24, 2008 Frances Spiegel

The Sackler Centre, the V&A's innovative facility for education in creative design and the arts, offers art studios, a digital media lab, display areas and an auditorium.

London's Victoria & Albert Museum is more than 150 years old and currently undergoing a major modernisation plan - FuturePlan.

FuturePlan

FuturePlan will bring the V&A into the 21st century and guarantee a vibrant future for many years to come. The plan preserves the beautiful architecture of the original building while opening up the inside to create modern galleries, exhibition spaces and the new Sackler Centre for Education.

Sackler Centre for Education

The new Sackler Centre for Education, a major component of FuturePlan, opens on 30th September 2008 effectively doubling the museum's study area which is located on two floors of the Henry Cole Wing.

As one of the most up-to-date education facilities in the UK the Centre will offer a comprehensive programme of conferences, courses, concerts, debates and workshops. Students, at every level, will have the chance to study with some of the United Kingdom's most innovative teachers and designers. Visitors will be able to study independently or as part of an organised group.

Mark Jones, Director of the V&A, said: “The V&A was founded to educate and inspire creativity. The Sackler Centre is a place where people of all ages will be able to come to learn, participate and engage with inspiring individuals and use the most up-to-date facilities to create their own work.” (Jones, M, Press Release: New Sackler Centre for Arts Education, V&A Museum, 2008.)

Residency Programme - Dorothy Hogg and Jo Lawrence

The Centre will host a Residency Programme which will provide the opportunity for four artists per year to use studios in the Sackler Centre. The artists in residence will run workshops and master classes for visitors and students. The first two designers taking part in the Residency programme will be Dorothy Hogg, jeweller and artist, and media artist, Jo Lawrence.

Facilities at the Sackler Centre

The Centre, funded by the Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation, has been designed by leading architects Softroom. The new facilities will include:

a large reception area and information point
space for displaying work
a large art studio
a digital media laboratory
workshops for artists in residence
a large lunch room
a seminar room for courses and study days
the Hochhauser Auditorium for lectures, debates, conferences, live performances and outside broadcasts
the Centre will also have its own entrance that will permit it to remain open as a multi-purpose arts centre and venue at times when the main museum is closed

Full details of all activities, events, and educational resources at the Sackler Centre can be found on the website of the Victoria & Albert Museum.

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