V&A concedes a few final extra viewing days

Outcry over closure of musical instruments gallery only prolongs the agony

by Ismene BrownWednesday, 03 February 2010

The V&A has made a small concession to the musical outcry over its plan to substitute musical instruments with fashion galleries - an outcry you read first on theartsdesk. It is opening the instruments gallery for extra days before the closure on 22 February.

Today, the first Wednesday of the month, would have been the only usual February opening day. But now there are six extra days to see the instruments, tomorrow, the weekend of 13-14 February, and the long weekend 19-21 February, before the collection is closed.

Our item reported the petition to Downing Street protesting at the musical instruments dispersal, to which currently some 5,000 people have signed (including many leading musicians and the former Royal Academy director Sir Norman Rosenthal). It also aired the fashion side of the argument, with Roxy Music designer Anthony Price pointing out that the V&A does not show much of its most interesting historical fashion because of lack of space and unsuitable conditions. Please go and pen your comment on our story.

Explore topics

Share this article

The future of Arts Journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more Classical music

Manchester Collective, RNCM review - something special in new music Performers of extraordinary versatility fulfil their brief

Classical CDs: Elephants, bells and warm blankets Two great conductors celebrated, plus medieval choral music and an eclectic vocal recital

Widmann, LSO, Pappano, Barbican review - razor-sharp attack in adrenalin charges A great conductor continues his scorching survey of British symphonies with a hard-hitter

Nakariakov, SCO, Emelyanychev, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh review - a frenzied feast of contemporary classics 'New Dimensions' concerts continue to flourish

Biss, BBCSO, Hrůša, Barbican review - electrifying Shostakovich at a crucial time The Royal Opera's next music director achieves blazing results in a rich programme

BBC Singers, Aurora Orchestra, Collon, Kings Place review - on the way to heaven via King's Cross Intimate settings for a musical journey towards bliss

Classical CDs: Mandolins, trumpets and hot soup French chamber music, Viennese waltzes and a disc of viola duets

RAM Song Circle, Wigmore Hall review - excellent young musicians lift the spirits Royal Academy singers revel in merry monks, mourning mothers and morose musings

Gigashvili, Hallé, Cox, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - beauty and style from a winning pianist Music and ‘noise’ come together as new music meets Mozart and Tchaikovsky

Giltburg, Pavel Haas Quartet, Wigmore Hall review - into the labyrinth of a Martinů masterpiece Fierce Czech first half followed by more storm but also balm in Brahms

Tiffin Youth Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Jurowski, RFH review - perfect detachment suits public statements Poised Haydn and John Adams in a surprising sequence

Celtic Connections: Orchestral Qawwali Project, GRIT Orchestra review - two concerts showcasing the cross-genre power of an orchestra Orchestral music imagined in many ways in Glasgow's global music festival

Follow @theartsdesk