V&A opens new exhibition on UK’s lost music venues

A new exhibition celebrating the impact of the UK’s lost music venues has opened at the V&A in West London.

Located at the West Kensington institution and with the support of the Music Venues Trust (The MVT), the V&A has offered an array of ephemera including posters, photography, merchandise and fashion which hold intrinsic links to around 50 clubs, concert halls and community spaces across the UK which have since closed their doors.

More than 150 objects are showcased in the display, with a large proportion being obtained after the V&A put out a public call for items last year.

As per NME, the exhibition is split into four different sections. The first explores how dance halls and cinemas became purpose-built music venues in the 1980s. Featured items in this section include artefacts linked to the iconic Manchester club The Haçienda, fashions from brands like Dr. Martens and Converse, and even the original 1985 sign for the Astoria, which has been loaned by Damon Albarn.

The exhibition then goes on to explore the rise of “toilet circuit” venues in the 1990s, which birthed the likes of Oasis and Blur, and features artefacts linked to both bands.

From a more contemporary perspective, the later sections look at the rise of social media in championing the likes of Arctic Monkeys in their early days, while the exhibition also looks at the challenges faced by grassroots venues today –including noise complaints, licensing laws and the coronavirus pandemic.

It also tackles the evolution of electronic club culture from the 1990s through to today present day, displaying HIV and AIDS awareness drives, as well as early Banksy exhibitions at venues including Glasgow’s The Arches.

“Music venues – be they gig spaces or nightclubs – are not only the lifeblood of the music industry but an integral part of the creative sector,” shared Harriet Reed, Curator of Contemporary Performance at V&A South Kensington. “As sites of experimentation, entrepreneurship and artistry they nurture talent and provide vital spaces for connection and community.”

It comes days after The White Hotel, one of Manchester’s most influential and respected independent clubs, announced plans to close in January 2027. Later this month, the Music Venue Trust will team up with the National Lottery for the Everywhere At Once Festival, which sees an eclectic line-up including the likes of Fatboy Slim, D Double E and Westside Cowboy playing at independent venues across the UK to fill the gap posed by Glastonbury’s fallow year.

You can find more information about the exhibition here.