A volunteer described the V&A East Storehouse as a moving museum offering new collections with each visit, and even the chance to touch some.
Opening its doors on 31 May, the V&A East Storehouse in Stratford presents visitors with the opportunity to observe conservation work on collections such as textiles in real time, and to interact directly with the museum’s holdings, including touching selected objects through the ‘Order an Object’ service.
Spanning four levels and covering an area larger than 30 basketball courts, the Storehouse holds more than 250,000 objects, 350,000 books, and 1,000 archives.
Its collection is organised into three main themes: Collecting Stories, Sourcebook for Design, and Working Museum.
Brigitte, 70, a volunteer on her first shift, said the Storehouse has already become her favourite museum, despite years of visiting and volunteering at others.
She said: “It’s fascinating to connect with people and see how they respond — some even find personal links with the objects.”
Her role is to engage visitors in conversation, help them navigate the space, and enhance their understanding of the collections.
For her, the most rewarding part is storytelling and building connections through dialogue.
She recalled one visitor, a former lawyer, who recognised a suit on display and said he had once represented its owner in court, sharing the story of the trial.
She added: “I’m glad visitors can make personal connections with collections that once felt so distant.”
Brigitte said the Storehouse is different from typical museum, as its items continually rotating in and out from other institutions for storage and display.
She said: “It is like a moving museum.
“Even if people visit multiple times, they’ll always see something new.”
Following her first day, Brigitte applied for four more volunteer shifts and said she is excited to continue learning as she supports visitors at the Storehouse.
Each display includes a QR code linking to detailed descriptions accessible on visitors’ phones.
Collection catalogues are also available to browse on site.
First-time visitors Sarah, Cathy, and Giovanna praised the QR system for enhancing their experience and helping them better understand the stories behind each object.
As a regular museum-goer, Cathy was stunned by the size of the collection and how well it was organised.
She said: “We were overwhelmed when we first stepped in, there were so many large-scale objects and costumes.”
The group added: “It’s impossible to see everything in one go.”
Although they were aware of the ‘Order an Object’ service, they didn’t have time to try it during this visit.
Sarah said: “We’re definitely coming back to try that next time.”
In addition to the main hall displays, the Storehouse also features curated book sections for visitors to browse, covering topics such as LGBTQIA+ culture, architecture, design, photography, and more.
On 10 June, the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, visited the Storehouse to celebrate creative access and the joy of public engagement with culture and design.
Picture credits: V&A East
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