May Half Term Highlights
Kids had a blast at Young V&A over half term. Everything centered on This Is Me!, tying into the Bloomfield Gallery's Imagine space. That's the spot co-curated to spark creativity and let kids express themselves. One standout was Play Saturday with the Acoustic Pavilion. There, children built fun structures. Artist Yuri Suzuki designed the installation to let them play with sound and space.
Heads up to The Shed upstairs. Visitors chatted with set and costume designer Saskia Martindale. She showed off props and costumes from ads, plus her own pieces made from recycled stuff. Hands-on stuff like that pulls you right into design work.
Engaging Performances and Workshops
Over in the Stage area, artists Ash Appadu and Katya Bobina put on a puppet show for kids five and older. It followed Moss, this shy monster figuring out who he is and how to fit into his world. Stories like that pull everyone in because they're so real.
The Clore Learning Studios ran workshops too. Comic artist Ahmed Raffat led one where kids invented superheroes, complete with powers, costumes, and drawings. Another dove into the old tempera painting method. Children seven to fourteen made pieces that echoed ancient Egypt.
Creative Interpretation Projects
Costume Project
The Young V&A Interpretation team kicked off a fresh costume project at The Stage. They teamed up behind-the-scenes folks with Front of House Assistants. Goal? Whip up outfits so visitors could jump into the shows. It helped everyone grasp how the museum commissions work and spots visitor needs on the fly.
Teams swapped feedback a few times. In the end, they nailed designs that are wild and varied. Now those costumes sit ready in the Imagine Gallery for anyone to grab and wear.
Max Lamb Tactile Stools
Thanks to funding from the Wolfson Foundation, the Interpretation team boosted accessibility. They targeted visitors with visual impairments. Designer Max Lamb got the gig to build stools that feel different materials: wood, plastic, metal, fabric.
They tested everything in workshops with the Together Space. The final stools mix textures and bits that move. Kids and adults alike can interact with them. Smart design meets real use here. Catch them at the London Design Festival come September 2025.
The Role of Play
Young V&A goes beyond just looking at things. It pushes play as key to how kids grow, especially through partnerships. Take The Power of Play with The LEGO Group. Started in June 2024, it boosts kids' well-being by ramping up play-based learning. Local communities see lasting gains from this.
Play Champions get trained to connect with families. They mix everyday activities for all ages, school-specific sessions, and neighborhood projects. Think sensory fun for toddlers. Or team games and stories for bigger kids. Everyone's included.
Commitment to Reading Rights
Young V&A keeps fueling early creativity. Lately, they sat down with folks like Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Talk centered on how reading shapes kids' growth and joy. Books do that heavy lifting.
The Reading Rights project pulls together schools, culture spots, and health pros. It builds full support for children. That's how learning and imagination mix without one edging out the other.
Saying Goodbye to the Young V&A Committee
Young V&A's turning a page. The old Young V&A Committee wrapped up its run. Big shift in how they run things and what they focus on. Now the Learning and Audiences Committee steps in to handle wider education plans. All about reaching more people with real impact.
Big thanks to every committee member. They built this place into something special. Moving ahead, the museum's set to inspire even more creativity in young visitors.
Young V&A nails creative discovery and self-expression. These programs amp up visits and kickstart lifelong habits. Reviews give a peek, but showing up yourself beats them all. Rent a car through GetRentacar.com to make getting there easy. Pick compacts, fancy SUVs, or green options for your next trip. Plan that business jaunt or whatever with a ride from GetRentacar.com. Matches your style perfectly.
