Following official advice released by Government and Public Health England on Monday March 16, 2020, the Design Museum will be temporarily closed to the public from March 18, 2020 until further notice.
Temporary exhibitions Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers and Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street, originally planned to open in April and May, will be postponed. Ticket holders will be contacted and everyone who has booked tickets from a third party is advised to contact them directly.
Tim Marlow, Chief Executive and Director of the Design Museum said:
“I would like to thank all our partners and supporters for their understanding at what is a difficult time for everyone. The whole cultural sector is responding to a rapidly developing situation, trying to implement measures that safeguard the well-being of all staff and visitors. No-one doubts the severity of what we will face in the weeks ahead but it’s clear that museums in general, and one devoted to design in particular, will have a significant role to play in the future and in spite of the need to close our landmark building temporarily, the work of the Design Museum will continue.”
The museum will monitor the situation closely in the following weeks and will wait for further advice to plan to re-open its building.
During this time the museum will use its significant online presence to continue to share the stories that communicate the impact of design on our lives. We invite everyone to join the conversation on social media @designmuseum.
The Design Museum is the world’s leading museum devoted to contemporary architecture and design. Its work encompasses all elements of design, including fashion, product and graphic design. Since it opened its doors in 1989 the museum has displayed everything from an AK-47 to high heels designed by Christian Louboutin. It has staged over 100 exhibitions, welcomed over five million visitors and showcased the work of some of the world’s most celebrated designers and architects including Paul Smith, Zaha Hadid, Jonathan Ive, Frank Gehry, Eileen Gray and Dieter Rams. On 24 November 2016, The Design Museum relocated to Kensington, west London. Leading architect John Pawson converted the interior of the 1960s modernist building to create a new home for the Design Museum giving it three times more space in which to show a wider range of exhibitions and significantly extend its learning programmes.