08 May 2017
V&A introduces secondary school DesignLab education scheme
BY Tom Anstey
The Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum is using the £100,000 (US$130,000, €118,000) prize it received in 2016 for winning the Art Fund’s Museum of the Year to launch a programme to support art and design education in secondary schools.
Called DesignLab Nation, the scheme is an evolution of the brainchild of former V&A director Martin Roth, which sent touring exhibitions to museums and art schools across Britain until 1977, when government cuts forced the discontinuation of the scheme.
Launching in September, the new scheme will be aimed towards 11-16 year olds, supporting the GSCE for Design and Technology and bringing together secondary schools, museums and local design firms.
In DesignLab’s first year, it will be trialled with Culture Coventry the body responsible for the Herbert Museum & Art Gallery, Coventry Transport Museum and Blackburn Museum. In its second year the scheme will expand to Sheffield and a further two locations.
“In Martin Roth’s acceptance speech when the V&A was announced as the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2016, he pledged to share the prize with museums and galleries across the country,” said a V&A spokesperson.
“DesignLab Nation revives the spirit of the old Circulation Department by sharing V&A objects with partners around the UK, but additionally aims to work with teachers and local industry to help revive art and design education in secondary schools.”
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