As you may already know, the V &A are planning to put their extensive
collection of historic musical instruments, currently on display in
Room 40, into storage, to facilitate redesigning the gallery to show
the museum's fashion collection
Although instruments have been part of the collection since the
museum's inception, there are no plans to reinstate the collection at
any future date, and it appears that it will either be broken up or
be
confined to spaces which are not open to the public. Full details
can
be found in the 16 January 2010 edition of Classical Music (page 7).
A petition has opened today ( 19.01.10) on the 10 Downing St website.
Please do add your name if you would like to register your regret at
this action., by following the link below.
Your petition has been approved by the Number 10 web team, and is now
available on the Number 10 website at the following address:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/VandAchange/
The petition reads:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that all
members of the public have continued, free and open access to the
complete historic and valuable musical instrument collection
entrusted
over generations to the Victoria and Albert Museum, and currently
exhibited in Room 40 (Jan 2010). The V & A are intending to place
in
long-term storage its collection of historic musical instruments,
which
is unparalleled in the UK. The reason for this destruction, given by
a
V & A spokesman, is so that "the gallery can be redesigned to show
the
fashion collections." Musical instruments have been part of the
collection since its inception in 1851: the museum has received
adverse comment on this plan from curators worldwide. The removal is
to
take place in Spring 2010, and is a short-term decision which will
have
long-term negative results for scholars and music lovers alike.
regards
Carey Clifford
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