The Victoria and Albert Museum is gearing up for an exhibition dedicated to London’s lost music venues, spanning from 1988 to 2025. They are inviting contributions from the public to help bring this project to life.
Independent music venues have faced significant threats, with over 3,000 bars, pubs, and nightclubs shuttering in London since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Lost Music Venues exhibition is set to debut in 2026 and aims to highlight the cultural importance of grassroots music spaces. This innovative show will include a diverse range of contributions, showcasing everything from intimate basement gigs to iconic nightclubs.
To achieve this, the museum is seeking Londoners’ help by asking for items or memorabilia that reminisce about these venues before they closed.
No item is too obscure! The museum welcomes everything from flyers and signage to equipment, set lists, posters, photographs, film footage, DJ decks, clothing, and designs.
Recent discussions surrounding the closures of venues have gained traction in the media. A new survey has shown that 93% of UK music fans believe that £1 from every arena ticket sold should support grassroots music venues. Notably, artist Sam Fender recently donated £1 for every ticket sold on his December 2024 tour to the Music Venue Trust.
As music editor Tom Taylor articulated, independent venues are essential, providing a service as critical as the remaining institutions receiving public funding, such as the NHS and schools.
The upcoming exhibition aims to tap into nostalgia and collective memory to underline the significance of these music venues for the well-being of the community.
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