The Music is Black: A British Story

125 years of Black music-making in Britain. This landmark exhibition will reveal how Black British music has shaped British culture. Spanning four continents and 12 decades, this is a story of excellence and struggle, resilience and joy.

The Music is Black: A British Story traces the roots of music descended from African musical practices that have influenced and transformed British identity over the past 125 years. Tracing an ever-evolving sound shaped by British colonialism, transatlantic enslavement, migration and innovation, this exhibition is a celebration of resilience, creativity and joy. It reveals how British-born Black music genres – from lovers rock and Brit funk, to 2 tone, jungle, drum & bass, trip hop, UK garage, grime and beyond – have inspired and impacted lives across the UK and around the world.

Divided into four powerful acts, the exhibition brings together an evocative sound experience and multimedia installations with over 200 objects from 1900 to today. Spanning fashion, photography, musical instruments and technology, personal writings, song sheets, sculpture, paintings and more, objects include over 60 newly acquired items to the V&A collection.

Weekday £22.50 / Weekend £24.50

Concessions apply.
Advance booking is recommended.

10:00-18:00, seven-days-a-week, with late night openings to 22:00 every Thursday and Saturday.