Wedgwood Collection to be loaned back to the Wedgwood Museum by the V&A
This article originally appeared on Culture24.
Just months after it was saved, the Wedgwood Collection is to be lent back to the Wedgwood Museum
© Art Fund. Photo: Phil SayerFollowing a fund raising campaign led by the Art Fund with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund to save the nationally important collection, the V&A has taken over as custodians of the collection to ensure it can never be put at risk again.
The collection came close to being broken up at auction after the museum’s parent company, the Wedgwood Trust, went into administration in 2013.
Now thanks to the new agreement the important collection of treasures will now form the core of the display at the new Wedgwood Museum, which will reopen as part of the World of Wedgwood in 2015.
The new attraction, which will be run by Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton (WWRD), will explore the Wedgwood brand, the history of its production, heritage and craftsmanship.
Describing the agreement as “the final piece of the jigsaw” to save the Wedgwood Collection, the V&A’s Deputy Director and COO, Tim Reeve, said the museum was “looking forward to a long-term partnership” with WWRD, who he said had already “done so much to keep the collection accessible in recent years and have great plans for the future of Wedgwood”.
“None of this could have been achieved without the support of the Art Fund and HLF and the generosity of the many individuals who donated to the appeal,” he added.
Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund said the deal was “a cause for great celebration”.
“Only three months after the Art Fund initially launched the public appeal to save the Wedgwood Collection, our plan has been realised in full," he added.
“We’re delighted that the V&A has now taken official ownership of this incomparably important archive of British art and history, safeguarding it in perpetuity and ensuring that visitors to the museum at Barlaston may enjoy it for years to come as part of the new World of Wedgwood development.”
The Wedgwood Museum will close for redevelopment on December 24 2014 and is due to re-open in Spring 2015.
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
Wedgwood Collection saved as Art Fund public appeal raises £2.74 million in a month
JCB digs deep for "hugely important" Wedgwood Collection as appeal passes £2.3 million
Art Fund launches public appeal to save £15.75 million Wedgwood Collection
