Balancing access and preservation

The V&A preserves its collections on behalf of the public and for future generations. We work to find a balance between protecting objects to avoid irreversible changes and making them permanently accessible to all.

This raises the question of how important it is for museum collections to be preserved for future generations. Should our children and grandchildren be able to experience these objects in the same way as we do?

Written by: Lead and Senior Conservators
Published: May 2025

Working Museum