V&A East Museum is launching its inaugural exhibition, 'The Music is Black: A British Story,' a comprehensive exploration of Black British music spanning over a century. Curated by Jacqueline Springer, the show features more than 200 objects—including instruments, fashion, and personal artifacts—alongside significant artworks by figures such as Sonia Boyce and Frank Bowling. The exhibition traces the evolution of genres from early 20th-century compositions to contemporary grime and drill, framing them as vital expressions of migration, resistance, and cultural identity.
This landmark exhibition marks the opening of the V&A East Museum and asserts Black British music as a foundational pillar of global culture rather than a peripheral genre. By integrating visual art with sonic history, the museum highlights how diasporic memory and urban life have shaped British creativity. The inclusion of newly commissioned works by established artists like Frank Bowling underscores the institutional commitment to centering Black British narratives within the UK's permanent cultural landscape.