Introducing the V&A’s Research Institute backup

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The V&A was the first museum in the world to establish a dedicated Research Department and it continues to be a core activity of the Museum today. We play a leading role in binding together the fields of art, design and performance; conservation and collections management; and object-led, museum-based learning.

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Research projects

Research is deeply embedded in the V&A’s institutional culture, as we strive to promote knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the designed world.

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Current project

Artist Fellowships – VARI / V&A East in collaboration with Bow Arts Trust

Artists Adam Moore and Laura Wilson are examining and responding to the histories and practices of making, manufacturing and materials in Newham. Based at Bow Arts’ studio in Royal Albert Wharf, they are investigating local ecologies and our relationship to nature within the urban environment.

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Current project

Early Career Fellowships in Cultural and Heritage Institutions

Generously supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), eight early career research fellows are undertaking research projects, each hosted by an Independent Research Organisation (IRO). The V&A is acting as the Cohort Coordination and Development team for this fellowship scheme.

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Current project

Hubs, Nodes and Networks: a new history of British digital art

This project funded by the Paul Mellon Centre, explores the relationships between digital art practitioners, communities, and institutions in Britain from 1960s to the present. It considers the V&A’s Computer Arts Society archive and collection as a central resource.

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V&A’s Research Institute

Opportunities

Find out how you can get involved with the V&A Research Institute — the first of its kind in the UK.

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