Judges praised the museum as a “truly inspirational” institution that engaged with the Bethnal Green community and reimagined the museum experience for young people. The , located in Bethnal Green, East London, has won the prestigious Museum of the Year award, securing the £120,000 (€142,000) prize. Formerly known as the Museum of Childhood, the museum reopened in July last year after a three year renovation at a cost of £13 million (€15 million).
“The Young V&A has done something completely rare, it’s completely reimagined the museum. It started with its target audience and then it fit all the pieces of the museum – the building, the collection, display, interpretation, exhibitions, learning – around that central focus of young people," says Jenny Waldman, the director of Art Fund, the UK's national charity for art. She adds: "It’s the world’s most joyful museum.
" The museum, tailored to children from 0 to 14, showcases over 2,000 objects spanning from 2300 BC to the present day, displayed across three galleries: Play, Imagine, and Design. These zones include an open design studio, a game design space for teenagers, and an interactive installation. As opposed to traditional museums, the Young V&A invites visitors to touch the items on display, and being loud is part of the experience.
Since October 2023, the museum has hosted "Japan: Myths to Manga", a temporary exhibition taking visitors on a journey through Japanese history, culture and folklore. The .
