V&A instrument gallery: museum responds to ISM concerns

The collection started in 1856 with the theorbo-lute and now contains some 260 musical instruments including a 1699 Stradivarius violin and an oboe belonging to Rossini.

Only a few instruments will remain on display and the rest of the collection will be broken up, with some going possibly to the much less accessible Horniman Museum in south London. Not surprisingly, there has been much adverse publicity with articles appearing in Classical Music magazine, the Times, the Guardian, Private Eye and the London Evening Standard.

Sarah Medlam, Deputy Keeper of the museum's Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Department, told us:

'Trustees and staff at the museum are very aware of the importance of the collection and are working hard to ensure that it remains available to the public after the galleries close.

'With such extensive collections and such a strong programme of exhibitions and events, we frequently have to make difficult decisions. By collaborating with the Horniman Museum, we can contribute to a wholly new centre for the study of musical instruments, while retaining the most beautiful and visually interesting examples for our own displays.'

The V&A must be persuaded to change its mind and an e-petition has been launched on the Prime Minister's website to do just that. Roger Vignoles (ISM President 2007-08), Dame Emma Kirkby and Steven Isserlis - along with more than 5000 others - have signed the petition and we are urging all members to do so too.

Downloads

• Read our letter to the V&A (PDF)
• Read the museum's full response (PDF)