The Smithsonian museum is heading to East London thanks to a collaboration with the V&A
Move over, National History Museum: the US' largest museum has just unveiled plans to come to London – and it's doing so in collaboration with the Victoria & Albert (V&A) museum.
In a statement the pair said they've agreed to work on a permanent gallery space at the V&A's East London museum at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the site of the 2012 Olympics.
The pair will work together on joint exhibitions, drawing on both museums' collections, as well as their expertise in science and the arts and humanities – "and where they intersect" (the science of underwear, perchance?).
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David Skorton, the Smithsonia's secretary, cautioned that the collaboration does not constitute an "outpost in London".
"It would… give both of us opportunities to engage with diverse audiences in innovative ways.What we learn through this collaboration will enable us to better tell our stories not only in London, but in the United States and around the world."
Sadiq Khan, London's newly-elected mayor of London, was also enthusiastic.
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“Growing London’s cultural sector is one of my core priorities as mayor, so I welcome this trans-Atlantic collaboration between two of the world’s most prestigious institutions.
“These plans would create an exciting new cultural destination in East London, which will help many more people enjoy the extraordinary collections managed by the Smithsonian and the V&A. It is great news for everyone who wants to see London’s cultural and creative sectors even bigger and better.”
That'll make quite the addition to the Night at the Museum film franchise…