Creating the British Galleries at the V&A A Study in Museology

by Wilk, Christopher; Humphrey, Nick

• ISBN13: 9780810966246
• ISBN10: 0810966247
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-10-14
• Publisher: Victoria & Albert Museum

Summary

In 2001, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, opened its new British Galleries to huge international acclaim. The V&A is the model for decorative arts museums the world over, and these revolutionary, award-winning new galleries provide a completely original, dynamic, and innovative approach: everything from audience access to display cases was reappraised. This book uses the British Galleries as a case study in modern curatorship, museum design, and display.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
British decorative and fine art at the V&A before the British Galleries	p. 5
The concept of the new British Galleries	p. 19
History in the galleries	p. 29
The educational basis for the galleries	p. 37
The orgnisation of the project	p. 49
Designing the galleries	p. 67
Colour, texture, pattern and light	p. 107
Developing the content of the galleries	p. 119
Interpretation in the galleries	p. 145
Low-tech interpretive devices	p. 145
Audio programmes and videos	p. 148
High-tech interactives	p. 151
The period rooms	p. 165
Evaluation - before and after opening	p. 207
Visiting the British Galleries - a personal view	p. 219
Conclusion	p. 225
Development of the British Galleries	p. 231
Themes for British art and design 1500-1900 : an overview	p. 234
The story of the British Galleries 1500-1900	p. 237
List of themes and displays	p. 240
Target audiences for the British Galleries	p. 242
Interpretive devices	p. 247
Sample display from framework document	p. 256
Sample from interpretive device briefs document	p. 258
Summative evaluation of the British Galleries : overview of findings	p. 260
List of principal donors	p. 265
List of construction work packages	p. 266
List of principal consultants	p. 267
Gallery text for Breathless	p. 268
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.