The inaugural exhibition The Music is Black: A British Story traces Black British music’s influence over 125 years, with objects ranging from Stormzy’s Glastonbury vest to Joan Armatrading’s childhood guitar and other notable items.

The opening program is anchored in the Why We Make theme, featuring more than 500 pieces from international artists and designers that highlight global diversity and local craftsmanship across fashion, craft, design, and technology.

The V&A East Museum, a new fifth or sixth site for the institution in Stratford, opens to the public in mid-April with multiple exhibitions, including two permanent Why We Make galleries centered on contemporary culture and The Music Is Black: A British Story.

Architecturally, the building is a five-storey design by O’Donnell + Tuomey, with a faceted sand-coloured precast concrete façade and 479 individual panels, plus public terraces to invite daylight and outdoor space.

The site is easily accessible by public transport, with nearby Stratford Station bus routes, a bike station, and parking at Westfield Stratford City for those driving.

The museum embraces the Japanese concept of Ma—the space in between—prioritizing openness, accessibility, and making, with a mission to address representation, wellbeing, social justice, and environmental action.

The on-site café, Jikoni, offers multi-national cuisine run by the Marylebone restaurant group.

The museum emphasizes a community-centered approach with local outreach, workshops, and co-creation programs that involve schools, local artists, and diverse communities in shaping future programming.

Leading voices including the museum’s director, local cultural figures, and the Mayor of London underscore the project’s community focus and East Bank significance.

The museum is a five-storey building designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey and is co-created with young people, local creatives, and residents to foreground making and creativity as drivers of change.

Opening requires timed entry for the first show, with visitors urged to confirm current booking details, especially during holidays and peak weekends.

Inside, five public levels house two permanent galleries, a 900-square-metre temporary exhibition space, a top-floor project and events area, learning facilities, and a café, linked by a continuous circulation route with daylight from windows and terraces.