Overview
- The five-story building by O’Donnell + Tuomey will open in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the East Bank cultural quarter.
- Two free permanent Why We Make galleries, developed with east London youth groups and JA Projects, will feature more than 500 objects exploring themes from representation to environmental action.
- The launch exhibition, The Music Is Black: A British Story, will trace Black British music from 1900 to today in partnership with BBC Music and a new East Bank creativity festival, with items including fashion worn by Little Simz.
- A rolling commissions program will debut new works by Tania Bruguera, Carrie Mae Weems and Rene Matić, with a major entrance sculpture by Thomas J. Price.
- Director Gus Casely-Hayford frames the site as a welcoming hub for Gen Z and historically overlooked audiences, building on the V&A Storehouse’s strong attendance since its May 2025 opening.