V&A East communities

Between 2022 and 2025, our Director Gus Casely-Hayford and staff from our Learning and Engagement team visited 81 schools across east London to bring objects from the V&A collection directly into classrooms.

The project supported young people and teaching staff to engage with objects and discuss subjects ranging from colonialism and repatriation to careers in museums. Your Collection aimed to build connections with young people, schools and colleges ahead of the opening of V&A East.

Written by: Kamal Hussain, V&A East Community Engagement Coordinator
Published: May 2025

Description: Necklaces inspired by Tamil Nadu necklace (museum no. IS.143-2019)

Maker: Students from Plashet School

Description: Box inspired by Asante box for storing gold dust (museum no. M.1135-1926)
Maker: Students from Plashet School

Description: Pomanders inspired by silver pomander (museum no. 1131-1864)
Maker: Students from Plashet School

Working Museum