V&A Photography Centre Opens in London October 2018

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London will open the first phase of its V&A Photography Centre on October 12, 2018, finally providing a permanent home for its vast photography collection. The project, designed by London-based David Kohn Architects following an international competition, is part of the museum's FuturePlan renovation program. Located in three 19th-century galleries on the west wing, the centre will feature a modular display system, sophisticated lighting and climate control, and a darkroom inspired by 19th-century photography for multimedia projections and workshops. The collection, started in 1852, includes works by pioneers like William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, and Frederick Scott Archer, as well as contemporary artists such as Thomas Ruff. A recent acquisition of 60 photographs by Linda McCartney, donated by Paul McCartney, will also be featured. The inaugural exhibition traces photography from the 19th century to the present, focusing on collecting. A second phase, slated for 2022, will add a research space, library, and workspace for young photographers.