London V&A East Storehouse Opens Hands-On Access to 250,000 Artifacts

The V&A East Storehouse in London has opened as an innovative museum and research center offering unprecedented access to over 250,000 objects from the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection that are usually kept out of public view. Visitors can explore the extensive collection, which spans medieval armor to avant-garde fashion, in a warehouse-style setting without traditional display cases, and can request to view or even handle certain priceless artifacts in dedicated viewing spaces. This new approach aims to demystify museum work by allowing the public to see how collections are stored and conserved, transforming the traditional museum experience into a more interactive and educational one. The project, housed in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, represents a decade-long effort to create a 'working museum' environment where behind-the-scenes operations are part of the visitor experience. Unlike conventional museums with restricted access to sensitive items, the V&A East Storehouse encourages close encounters with history and art, making it one of the most accessible museum setups worldwide.